The homeless

kingfisher?

Spare a thought for the kingf isher this winterA century ago, kingfishers were a familiar and well-loved sight along our waterways. This distinctive, electric blue bird with vivid orange underparts, speeds low and fast above the water. Even a fleeting glimpse is guaranteed to brighten your day.

But now these colourful and shy birds are in trouble. Since 1974 the number of breeding pairs of kingfisher has declined to an estimated 3,500-5,500 nationally. For example, in parts of the Nene Valley in Northamptonshire, the number of breeding pairs recorded more than halved between 2003-2013 to just 10. Similar trends are being seen across our three counties.

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Kingfishers need open, steep sided riverbanks where they can nest safely, and unpolluted waterways with a plentiful supply of small fish – a hungry kingfisher brood can demand over 100 fish a day from their parents.

Pollution, changes in water depth and speed of flow can result in unsuitable conditions for fish and other food sources. A prolonged, harsh winter can wipe out large populations as kingfishers simply starve to death.

Turn over to find out why our

kingfishers so urgently need your support.

Kingfishers f lourish in a landscape like this...

Shallow, gravelly pools

and riffles teem with fish

Wildflower meadows reduce chemical runoff into waterways

Fallen branches

and bankside vegetation

create fishing perches

Steep sided riverbanks

provide safe nesting sites

...but this is what kingfishers face today

Making rivers deeper can destroy

natural habitat

Cattle eroding riverbanks increase

sediment and decrease

water quality

Straight, sluggish waterways

support little aquatic vegetation or food

sources

Non-native, invasive plants

overrun riverbanks and block nest sites

We know that given clean water, safe nesting places, plenty of fish and your support, kingfishers can recover Here at the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire, we work on our own nature reserves, with partners and with other landowners to protect special places for kingfishers and other threatened wildlife.

But we can’t do it without your support.

£5 a month can help secure

the future of kingfishers

near you

By managing our waterways and surrounding countryside to protect and enhance wildlife, we can improve kingfishers’ chances of survival. Below are just 4 examples of how your support can help us to do this.

Just £5 a month could help kingfishers by:

Protecting riverbanks from cattle erosion by installing stock proof fencing. 6 months’ membership could pay to fence a 5 metre stretch of riverbank.

Paying to sensitively clear silt and vegetation from small river channels to expose nesting and feeding places for kingfishers. 12 months’ membership could pay for clearing 10 metres of riverbank.

Installing flow deflectors to vary water speed which encourages waterways to ‘snake’, improving conditions for kingfisher food sources. 3 members joining for a year could pay for 1 pair of flow deflectors to be installed.

Enabling The Wildlife Trust to campaign against threats to kingfishers’ homes.

Visit www.wildlifebcn.org/kingfisher

Your gift of £5 per month can help secure a better future for kingfishers near you

You can join online today at www.wildlifebcn.org/kingfisher

By joining The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire today, not only will you be helping kingfishers, you will also be benefitting all wildlife that the Trust works hard to protect.

Don’t let this be the end of the story for our kingfishers

Turn over to find out what benefits you’ll

enjoy when you join us

Join us today We are the only conservation charity dedicated to protecting all local wildlife across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.

As a member, you will receive:

A guidebook to over 120 local nature reserves

Free access to our local nature reserves and many events

Our full colour members’ magazine, Local Wildlife, three times a year

Magazines, posters, handbook and stickers for children

To join visit www.wildlifebcn.org/kingfisher or complete and return the attached form

Direct Debit GuaranteeThis guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits. If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit, The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire (BCN) will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request The Wildlife Trust BCN to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request. If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by The Wildlife Trust BCN or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society. If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when The Wildlife Trust asks you to. You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us.

The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire The Manor House, Broad Street, Great Cambourne, Cambridge CB23 6DH Registered charity no. 1000412. Company no. 2534145

Illustrated by Christopher Lewis Lee.

Already a member of The Wildlife Trust? Please pass this on to a friend.

Freepost RTKE-REZU-YRLZ The Wildlife TrustThe Manor House Broad Street Great Cambourne CambridgeCB23 6DH

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Service user number

6 2 4 2 4 0

Branch sort code

Reference (for o�ce use only)

Bank/building society account

To: The Manager

Address

Postcode

Signature(s) __________________________________________________

Date_________________________________________________________

Name(s) of account holder(s)

MOISTEN THE EDGES AND SEAL

MOISTEN THE EDGES AND SEAL

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Join us online at www.wildlifebcn.org/kingfisher or complete this pageand the Direct Debit form opposite, then simply detach, seal securely andreturn to us at our FREEPOST address.

Please enter names of the people in your household to become membersof The Wildlife Trust BCN. Your personal details will only be used by TheWildlife Trust BCN and will not be passed on to any third party.

Title Initial DateSurname

I would like to give £5 Other £_________ per month*

Title First name Surname Date of birth

Member 1

Member 2

Member 3

Member 4

Address

Postcode

Phone

Email

Please allow 21 days to receive your membership welcome pack(s).

Every £1 you give could be worth at least £1.25 to wildlife– at no cost to you. Simply complete the box below.

I am a UK taxpayer and I would like all donations made to The Wildlife Trust BCN in the last four years and in future to be treated as Gift Aid donations. I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand The Wildlife Trust BCN will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I give.

If in future you no longer pay tax equal to the tax that we reclaim, you should cancel your declaration. In this case please contact us.

Your financial support could be used to make a Contributing Third Party (CTP) payment to a landfilloperator to secure a grant through the Landfill Communities Fund. This enables us to turn every £1that you give us into £10 for local nature conservation.

MRC65

Instruction to your bank or building society to pay by Direct Debit

Instruction to your bank/building society: Please pay the Wildlife Trust BCNDirect Debits from the account detailed in this instruction subject to the safeguardsassured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this instruction mayremain with the Wildlife Trust BCN and if so details will be passed electronicallyto my bank/building society.

Banks and building societies may not accept Direct Debit instructions for some types of account

Yes, I want to save the kingfisher and other local wildlife

Service user number

6 2 4 2 4 0

Branch sort code

Reference (for o�ce use only)

Bank/building society account

To: The Manager

Address

Postcode

Signature(s) __________________________________________________

Date_________________________________________________________

Name(s) of account holder(s)

MOISTEN THE EDGES AND SEAL

MOISTEN THE EDGES AND SEAL

MO

IST

EN

TH

E E

DG

ES A

ND

SE

AL

DE

TAC

H H

ER

E

Join us online at www.wildlifebcn.org/kingfisher or complete this pageand the Direct Debit form opposite, then simply detach, seal securely andreturn to us at our FREEPOST address.

Please enter names of the people in your household to become membersof The Wildlife Trust BCN. Your personal details will only be used by TheWildlife Trust BCN and will not be passed on to any third party.

Title Initial DateSurname

I would like to give £5 Other £_________ per month*

Title First name Surname Date of birth

Member 1

Member 2

Member 3

Member 4

Address

Postcode

Phone

Email

Please allow 21 days to receive your membership welcome pack(s).

Every £1 you give could be worth at least £1.25 to wildlife– at no cost to you. Simply complete the box below.

I am a UK taxpayer and I would like all donations made to The Wildlife Trust BCN in the last four years and in future to be treated as Gift Aid donations. I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand The Wildlife Trust BCN will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I give.

If in future you no longer pay tax equal to the tax that we reclaim, you should cancel your declaration. In this case please contact us.

Your financial support could be used to make a Contributing Third Party (CTP) payment to a landfilloperator to secure a grant through the Landfill Communities Fund. This enables us to turn every £1that you give us into £10 for local nature conservation.

MRC65

Instruction to your bank or building society to pay by Direct Debit

Instruction to your bank/building society: Please pay the Wildlife Trust BCNDirect Debits from the account detailed in this instruction subject to the safeguardsassured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this instruction mayremain with the Wildlife Trust BCN and if so details will be passed electronicallyto my bank/building society.

Banks and building societies may not accept Direct Debit instructions for some types of account

3 reasons to join today: I want to provide safe, healthy homes for kingfishers near meThe Wildlife Trust’s ongoing work improves nesting and breeding conditions for kingfishers and many other species reliant on our local waterways. I want to learn more about kingfishers and other local wildlifeAs a member you will receive updates on our conservation work and see how your support helps us improve habitat for wildlife. You can also enjoy our informative guided walks, talks and family events scheduled throughout the year. I want kingfishers to be enjoyed by future generationsYou will be adding your voice to a growing body of people passionate to see our local natural heritage protected into the future.

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With kind thanks to Opticron for supporting this mailing