Guest blog by Miranda Krestovnikoff
This week, 9 to 13 September, is Remember a Charity in your Will Week. It’s a good time to talk about how we can make a positive difference through the simple act of leaving a legacy.
If I could pass on something wonderful for my children, their children, and generations to come I think it would be pristine, healthy seas and beaches. Dolphins leaping, crabs scuttling, gannets diving among glittering shoals of fish. Rock pools teeming with life. The glorious cacophony of a cliff bustling with thousands of fulmars, guillemots, kittiwakes and razorbills. The waddling of puffins! Watching my children’s faces when I showed them their first albatross and their first whale: these were truly magical moments. I want as many people as possible to have the chance to experience that. In twenty, fifty, a hundred years’ time. And beyond. But nature faces multiple threats at sea. Those seabird colonies are threatened by climate change, overfishing and offshore development. On islands that were once safe from predators, animals brought in by people are devastating nesting sites by eating eggs and chicks. However all is not lost. We can work together to save these special places. That’s what makes leaving a legacy to the RSPB so fantastic - it means that thanks to you we can carry on working to make sure nature thrives. We’re out there fighting to protect spaces for nature, restoring seabird islands, and campaigning to stop climate change. As one of our supporters who has kindly pledged us a legacy says "We both have always enjoyed watching birds. We want future generations to be able to enjoy seeing birds so want to contribute to the work the RSPB does with conservation”. I love that they want to share seeing birds, which is really special to them, with everyone. Find out how you can pass on something wonderful here