Think about adopt a…. something and it’s normally an animal as a gift for someone or as a gift for nature, to give something back. There are other types of adoptions which benefit the natural world and more than one species at the same time, due to the number of species the adoption will support.
I’m talking about adoptions such as adopt a pond, or adopt a wetland. These sorts of adoptions are about providing much needed and essential habitat for wildlife and marine life.
Here are just some of them. Now these are in the UK for the most part, but you can always google yourself to see if there’s anything you can sponsor or adopt in your area. All images below copyright to the respective charities.
Help with snow leopard conservation and adopt a camera. I'll tell you straight off, this is not an inexpensive gift so it may be that a few of you could club together to treat a loved one to it - but what a gift for snow leopards and the Snow Leopard Trust to help with snow leopard conservation! Get a great view into the captivating landscape of the snow leopard and immerse yourselves in the researchers' discoveries. Take in the images of snow leopards and their prey - all from a 'cat’s point of view.’ Your adoption will enable the Trust to replace one of their cameras and continue with their long-term research. You’ll receive quarterly updates, a personalized certificate, and thousands of exclusive photographs from an active camera trap are immediately available to download! For £392.00 from the Snow Leopard Trust.
Safeguard the future of wetlands and their wildlife by adopting a wetland from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT). There are different UK venues available - at the time of writing (Oct 2023) these were Arundel, London, Slimbridge and Martin Mere. Wetlands are vital for all our health and well being - find out more about them here.
Somerset Wildlife Trust say that 97% of wildflower meadows have been lost in the UK since the 1940s, and yet they support many different kinds of plants, and give really important habitat for wildlife to feed, breed and pass through. You could adopt a meadow for £30.00 and help them manage both their own reserves and to work with farmers, communities and other landowners on more sensitive grazing and cutting rotations and to manage hedgerows carefully
This one would be great for amphibian and reptile lovers, as it is through the charity Froglife. Ponds are vital habitats for frogs, toads and newts and a whole variety of other wildlife such as small mammals, birds, invertebrates and aquatic plants. Freshwater habitats can also act as carbon sinks and flood defences. Froglife is creating and restoring ponds in several regions of the UK as a way of undoing the damage to pond habitat. Sponsor a pond from £50.00. Hop or slither over to Froglife to find out more!
Help the Woodland Trust boost the UK's declining hedgerows. They are a key source for wildlife, acting as a place to rest, nest, feed and link between habitats. Help the Woodland Trust plant more hedgerows. Find out more.
Plantlife have an opportunity for everyone to adopt a reserve in Carmarthenshire, Herefordshire, Derbyshire, Caithness, Kent, Dorset, Rutland, Somerset or North Yorkshire... this is for £5,000. Find out more here...
You can also adopt an acre for £500 or adopt a flower, lichen or fungus for £20.00 or Adopt a Veteran Tree for £200.00
You could Adopt a Box with the Hawk and Owl Trust. They provide boxes for Peregrine, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl and Little Owl and of course these cost money to build, monitor, maintain and eventually replace. Adopt a Box and help these birds survive.
Buglife’s B-Line projects are taking place across the UK, to help recreate wildflower habitat for wild pollinators. Help Buglife help our invertebrates with this adoption, from £10.00
So this isn't an 'Adopt' gift as such, but it's a great Secret Santa for £5 or £10.00.. Imagine, just £5 will protect 200 square metres of threatened habitat - via the World Land Trust's Buy an Acre programme! The Secret Santa pack has a gift certification, 3 picture postcards and information about the World Land Trust. Find out all about it here.
The Trust also has Christmas cards and a calendar for 2025 - you can see their Christmas gifts here.
