The Wildlife Trusts across England, Scotland and Wales are to harness the power of nature to fight climate change, thanks to almost £2 million raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

The money will be used to fund nature restoration projects which will halt emissions from degraded land and maximise carbon storage through natural processes, locking up carbon in our peatlands, meadows, wetlands and at sea.

Wild habitats have a huge role to play in addressing climate change. A hectare of saltmarsh, for example, can capture two tonnes of carbon a year and lock it into sediments for centuries, but we are losing nearly 100 hectares of saltmarsh a year.

When healthy, our natural habitats can reduce the risk of flooding, help prevent coastal erosion, improve people’s health and wellbeing, as well as maintain healthy soils, clean water and the pollinators needed by farmers for their crops.

Craig Bennett, Chief Executive at The Wildlife Trusts, said: “Wilder places are better for beavers, birds and butterflies and better for storing carbon too, which is good news for tackling climate change. When you re-wet a peatland and stop it from drying out, it locks up vast amounts of carbon and this new Postcode Lottery funding means The Wildlife Trusts can make this happen on a huge scale.”

In this region, Mike Pratt, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Chief Executive said: “This brilliant cash boost from players of People’s Postcode Lottery has lifted our morale during the second lockdown especially as it will allow us to focus on work which we may not have been able to undertake as, like all charities at the moment, our funding is very precious.

“The funding will allow us to ensure our Trust is greener as we work towards net zero carbon by 2030. We will calculate our carbon footprint and firm an action plan to offset our emissions and reduce them.

“We will also develop land based natural solutions such as investing more in peat on our reserves such as Whitelee Moor and Benshaw Moor and consider a number of other climate friendly approaches.”

Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have been supporting The Wildlife Trusts since 2008 but today’s news means that, for the first time, every one of Britain’s 44 Wildlife Trusts is now benefitting from player support. www.postcodelottery.co.uk/good-causes.