Natural England: Restoring Bergum Wood through Outdoor Fundraising
How Natural England raised £12,951 to restore Bergum Wood near the Stiperstones National Nature Reserve through a 3-month text and web giving campaign combining signage, community events, and digital outreach.
DONATE™ provided Natural England with mobile fundraising resources to raise funds through text and mobile web giving, enabling supporters to contribute via multiple channels to support woodland restoration near the Stiperstones National Nature Reserve in Shropshire.
The Campaign
Between February 20 and May 29, 2017, the campaign used signage throughout the wood, requests at local pubs and community events, plus postal, email, and social media promotion.
Donation options offered:
- £5 via text (NENG001 to 70970): supports 250 bluebells and one holly bush
- £10 via text (NENG001 to 70191): supports 500 bluebells and 2 holly bushes
- Custom amounts via web for larger gifts
The restoration transforms a barren conifer plantation into upland oak woodland with spring bluebells, supporting native species including bats, tree pipits, pied flycatchers, dormice, and speckled wood butterflies.
The Result
Total raised: £12,951
- 120 DONATE™ donations: £6,644
- Gift Aid: £807.75
- Total through DONATE™: £7,451.75
- Offline pledge: £5,000
- Web: 90 donations (75%), average £79.74 including Gift Aid, 72% Gift Aid uptake
- Text: 30 donations (25%), average £8.60 including Gift Aid, 33% Gift Aid uptake
"DONATE™ has allowed us to maximise our fundraising results...we raised £7.5k through DONATE™ and with the £5k from a local charitable trust, reaching our target of £12,000."
- Simon Cooter, Senior Reserve Manager, Natural England