Water Vole (Arvicola amphibius), Kent, UK - Terry Whittaker/2020VISION
How to include a gift in your Will
There’s no obligation to leave a gift, but if you choose to, your Will could help protect the wildlife and wild places you love - for generations to come.
Writing your Will is an important step. We're here to make it easier, so please do get in touch with any queries.
If you are writing or updating your Will and would like to leave Durham Wildlife Trust a gift, it is really important to include the below information, to make your wishes clear:
Full name: Durham Wildlife Trust
Registered Charity No: 501038
Our address: Durham Wildlife Trust, Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve, Houghton-le-Spring, DH4 6PU
Telephone: 0191 584 3112
Free online Will writing service
We have partnered with Make a Will Online to offer a free, convenient way to make a Will from home.
Free online Will writing service
Click the link above and follow the step-by-step process to create your will. Every Will made through the service is checked by a fully qualified solicitor, and you can also ask legal questions if you need additional guidance.
More about using 'Make A Will Online'
Capacity Vault
The service includes free access to Capacity Vault (https://capacityvault.co.uk/), which provides additional protection for the wishes recorded in your will by helping to safeguard against future challenges concerning capacity, undue influence or fraud.
When to make a will face to face
Making a will online will not be the right option for everyone. If you already have a solicitor you are happy with, or simply prefer to discuss your wishes with someone face to face, you should continue to use them.
We would also recommend speaking directly with a solicitor if your estate is particularly large or is above the inheritance tax threshold (https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/a-guide-to-inheritance-tax), or if your circumstances are more complex, for example, if your estate involves trusts or assets held overseas.
Where there may be concerns about someone's capacity to make a will, perhaps because of medication, dementia or another condition affecting their ability to make decisions, we would always recommend speaking to a solicitor face to face.
You can search for a solicitor in your area using the Law Society website (http://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/).
If you decide to include Durham Wildlife Trust in your will, please make sure your solicitor uses the charity's full details:
Charity Name: Durham Wildlife Trust
Registered Charity Number: 501038
Registered Address: Rainton Meadows, Chilton Moor, Houghton-Le-Spring, Tyne and Wear DH4 6PU
Your privacy and your choices
When you use Durham Wildlife Trust's dedicated online will service, information about your use of the service is shared with the Trust. This includes your name, year of birth, email address and postal address, whether you have started or completed your will, and information about any gift you have chosen to leave to Durham Wildlife Trust, such as the type or value of the gift.
Where you have given your consent, Durham Wildlife Trust can use your details to thank you for your support and keep in touch with you.
We also understand that making a will is a very personal decision and that some supporters may prefer their arrangements to remain completely confidential. If you would like to make your will without Durham Wildlife Trust receiving information about you or any gift you decide to leave, you can use the general Make a Will Online service (https://www.makeawillonline.co.uk/) instead.
However you choose to make your will, and whether or not you decide to leave a gift to Durham Wildlife Trust, thank you for considering the future of local wildlife and wild places.
David Attenborough and David Bellamy at Joe's Pond
“Anyone who cares about wildlife has a marvellous opportunity to do something quite unique, by remembering their local Wildlife Trust in their will.
This generous act is one of the most important things you can do to make sure the species and habitats we love will be there for future generations to enjoy.”
Securing a wilder future
We have been fortunate enough to receive some generous donations over the years, here is an overview of how we have used them:
- Ragpath Heath Nature Reserve, a beautiful site, rich in wildlife was generously left to us in 2007.
- Using a cash gift we bought a mobility scooter for Low Barns Nature Reserve. The scooter is frequently used and helps those with limited mobility to get around the reserve.
- Generous legacies made Project Redshank at Rainton Meadows happen. By creating muddy lake margins on the reserves lakes new habitats was created for wading birds, such as redshank, oystercatcher, lapwing and little ringed plover.
If you would like to know more about leaving a gift please get in touch.