Here at Lazy Susan, our philanthropy is very important to us. Our ongoing charity campaign is something the team are immensely proud of and we’re always looking at ways we can Do Some Good.
One area we feel very passionately about that we’ve not discussed on the Lazy Living Blog is countryside conservation, so we thought it would be nice to take a closer look at a few charities that are doing some wonderful work.
For us, the term countryside conservation encompasses two facets:
- The conservation and protection of our landscapes, ecosystems and habitats
- The protection, promotion and management of livestock and wildlife
Those landscapes and habitats are in a constant state of flux and evolution, both naturally and at the hands of people. And whilst many of the natural can be managed or minimised, the impact of us on the countryside often has a far more devastating effect.
The countryside conservation charities we want to highlight in this post are primarily focused on:
- Repairing the damage done by humans and maintaining the environment for future generations
- Maintaining species diversity for our benefit and that of native wildlife
- Providing opportunities for education and greater enjoyment of the countryside itself
Why is countryside conservation important?
The countryside is a living ecosystem that is essential for our survival. It has evolved over many tens of thousands of years, and as a result, it contains all sorts of delicate and complex food chains, biodiversity, and history.
In the UK we are lucky to have such a wide range of landscapes and habitats, from coastline to dales, that provide us with vital services such as clean air, water and food production, for example.
Protecting those natural spaces is crucial and there are a number of great initiatives and schemes in place to help grow our rural economies, improve rural planning, and help better the environment.
Lazy Susan’s top 5 countryside conservation charities
If you want to get involved or help to support some of the great work going on in the UK, then these charities are a great place to start:
1. The Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust is the largest woodland conservation charity in the UK and is primarily concerned with the creation, protection, and restoration of our native woodland heritage.
From their HQ in Grantham, they’ve coordinated the planting of over 50 million trees since forming in 1972, and their ongoing vision is to see the UK rich in native woods and trees, for the benefit of people and wildlife.
They work tirelessly to create safe havens for wildlife by planting millions of trees every year, campaigning for new laws to protect ancient woodland and restoring damaged ancient woods so they can breathe again.
There are a number of ways you can get involved from making donations to dedicating trees or leaving a gift in your will. To find out more, please visit their Support Us page.
2. CPRE
The CPRE or The Countryside Charity has been known by a number of names over the years, and you may remember them as the Council for the Preservation of Rural England.
However, its focus has remained the same, to maintain a beautiful, thriving countryside for all of us to enjoy.
With over 40,000 members and supporters, their passion is to make the countryside a better place for everyone to live and work. From farming and landscaping to sustainability and climate change, their remit covers it all.
There are local CPRE groups in every county in England, and they’re working tirelessly to advocate nationally for the kind of countryside we all want to see - sustainable, healthy communities that are available to everybody.
The CPRE have a host of ways you can get involved from donation and membership to fundraising and volunteering, and you can find out more on their Get Involved page.
3. Countryside Regeneration Trust
The focus of the Countryside Regeneration Trust is to protect, promote, and regenerate our land and all life on it, by bringing people and properties together to make everyone a friend of the countryside.
With farmland wildlife in decline, small farms are struggling to survive, and the future of our wild spaces is in severe jeopardy, the CRT is working hard to support sustainable farming, monitor and protect wildlife, reconnect people with the countryside and restore our natural farming heritage.
Formed in 1993 by the farmer, journalist and conservationist, Robin Page and the late artist and conservationist, Gordon Beningfield, their initial aim was to buy intensively farmed land with declining wildlife numbers and restore it.
The CRT relies completely on the generosity of its supporters and friends to continue its vision of a living, working countryside. To find out how you can become a friend of the countryside today, pop over to their Get Involved page.
4. Soil Association
The Soil Association is a charity that was created to work with anyone and everyone to transform the way we eat, farm and care for our natural world. Working together with farmers, businesses, policymakers and fellow citizens, their work has made an impact on the food we eat, the clothes we wear and the environment in which we live.
For over 75 years, they’ve been working tirelessly to campaign against intensive farming and promote local purchasing via public education on nutrition. Their certification mark is now the country's leading organic certification scheme, covering food, farming, catering, beauty & wellbeing, fashion & textiles and forestry.
Throughout their history, they've campaigned for change on a global scale, supported farming innovation, and developed world-leading standards in order to protect the future health of our countryside.
With our help, everything can change. Whether it’s writing to your MP, planting bee-friendly flowers or giving £5 a month, pop over to their Support Us page to see how you can take action today and join the good food revolution!
5. The National Trust
Probably the best known on this list, sometimes the incredible work they do is overshadowed by their building preservation work. However, their heritage conservation work goes much deeper than saving our stately homes.
One of the largest landowners in the UK, the Trust is responsible for close to 250,000 hectares (620,000 acres; 2,500 km2; 970 square miles) of land and 780 miles of coastline. Its properties include over 500 historic houses, castles, archaeological and industrial monuments, gardens, parks and nature reserves.
They work tirelessly to protect and care for these places so people and nature can thrive. Responsible for hundreds of houses and close to a million objects, along with vast areas of coastline, countryside and green spaces, their goal is to promote and preserve these places of natural beauty and historic interest.
From tackling climate change to protecting ancient trees and wildlife, they're working hard to safeguard nature for years to come. As with all the charities on our list, there is a number of ways you can get involved. Head over to their Support Us page to see how you can donate, fundraise and volunteer.
If you’ve got any photos of your Lazy Susan Garden Furniture in situ, then we’d love to see them for our own Do Some Good charity campaign. You can tag us @LazySusanFurniture on Instagram or Facebook or email them to us at [email protected].