What Surrey Wildlife Trust does

Surrey Wildlife Trust is a UK registered charity (No. 208123) founded in 1959 and headquartered in Pirbright, Woking. It is the largest nature conservation charity in Surrey, managing over 60 nature reserves covering more than 850 hectares of protected heathland alone, including flagship sites such as Chobham Common (574 ha), one of the largest lowland heaths in the world. The trust's core activities span habitat restoration, species reintroduction programs (including beavers and Dartford warbler recovery from 10 to approximately 3,200 breeding pairs), river restoration, and land management for biodiversity. It operates the Surrey Biodiversity Information Centre (SBIC) as the county records hub and maintains the Wildlife Explorer online species database.

The organization serves four primary customer segments: individual members and donors, corporate partners (Reserve Guardians, Wild Work Days, business sponsorships), schools and educators (via Nower Wood Education Centre and youth programs including Duke of Edinburgh's Award activities), and landowners/developers (through SWT Ecology Services consultancy and Biodiversity Net Gain credit sales). Additional community engagement runs through the Wilder Communities Network and volunteer programs. Revenue is generated across nine streams: membership subscriptions, donations and appeals, corporate giving, legacies and gifts in wills, fundraising events, ecological consultancy, retail and merchandise, wildlife adoptions, and Gift Aid reclaim (25% uplift on UK taxpayer donations). The business model is community-led, relying on member subscriptions, volunteer networks, and public participation in conservation activities, with no parent company, venture capital, or private equity ownership.

Surrey Wildlife Trust operates within the national Wildlife Trusts network of 46 UK trusts and partners with Surrey County Council on public access to reserves. In 2025 it received designation as part of the Wealden Heaths 'Super' National Nature Reserve under the King's Series program, and both the Chief Executive and a Trustee received MBEs in the King's Birthday Honours, signaling elevated institutional standing and regulatory recognition within the UK conservation sector.

Name

Surrey Wildlife Trust

Legal name

Surrey Wildlife Trust

Website

https://surreywildlifetrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Surrey Wildlife Trust is a UK-registered conservation charity managing over 60 nature reserves across Surrey, delivering habitat restoration, ecological consultancy (SWT Ecology Services), biodiversity net gain credits, education programs, and community engagement funded through memberships, donations, legacies, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), Biodiversity Conservation & Habitat Banking (AFAMAMAC)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation services
• Nature reserve management
• Ecological consultancy
• Environmental education programs
• Biodiversity net gain

Headquarters

HQ city

Woking

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual and monthly membership fees providing access to reserves, events, and member benefits. Core recurring revenue stream for the charity.
2. Donations and Appeals: One-time and regular donations, including specific appeals such as Save Surrey's Nature, Bringing back Beavers, Neighbourhoods for Nature, and Wilder Acorn Fund.
3. Corporate Giving and Sponsorship: Corporate membership packages, business donations, Reserve Guardians program, Wild Work Days for corporate teams.
4. Legacies and Gifts in Wills: Legacy giving program with a Legacy Society, free will-writing service, and estate gifts.
5. Fundraising Events: Charity challenge events, hedgehog walks, community fundraising activities, and JustGiving platform integration.
6. Ecological Consultancy Services: SWT Ecology Services provides ecological consultancy to landowners, developers, and organizations. Nature-based solutions, BNG credits, and planning advice services.
7. Retail and Merchandise: Shop selling ethical clothing, gifts, books, and wildlife merchandise through the SWT online shop and the ethical clothing store at surreywildlifeshop.org.
8. Wildlife Adoptions: Digital wildlife adoption packages sold through the shop, allowing supporters to symbolically adopt species.
9. Gift Aid Reclaim: HMRC Gift Aid scheme allows SWT to reclaim 25p per pound donated by UK taxpayers on membership subscriptions and donations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Surrey Wildlife Trust is a UK-registered conservation charity (No. 208123) that manages over 60 nature reserves across Surrey, runs habitat restoration and species reintroduction projects, and delivers outdoor learning, events, courses, and youth programs. It sells memberships and donations to fund conservation, while generating commercial revenue through SWT Ecology Services (ecological consultancy, Biodiversity Net Gain credits, planning advice) and a retail shop offering wildlife adoptions and merchandise.

Product overview

Surrey Wildlife Trust operates as a membership-based conservation charity offering a portfolio of interconnected services centered on wildlife protection, nature reserve management, and environmental education. The core offering includes the Wildlife Explorer platform for species identification, membership programs with Gift Aid support, and access to over 60 nature reserves managed in partnership with Surrey County Council. Professional services include ecological consultancy, planning advice, Biodiversity Net Gain credits, and nature-based solutions advisory. Educational offerings span schools programs through the Nower Wood Education Centre, youth action initiatives including Duke of Edinburgh's Award activities, and community engagement through the Wilder Communities Network. Additional revenue-generating services include wildlife adoptions, corporate partnerships, events and courses, and the County Records Centre (SBIC) providing biodiversity data services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Program Annual and monthly membership scheme supporting the trust's conservation work, providing members with benefits including access to nature reserves, events, publications, and Gift Aid eligibility for UK taxpayers.
• Wildlife Adoptions Digital wildlife adoption packages sold via the trust's online shop, allowing supporters to symbolically adopt species and receive related adoption benefits.
• Nature Reserves Access Public access to over 60 nature reserves across Surrey including Chobham Common, Wisley & Ockham Commons, Whitmoor & Rickford Commons, and Rodborough Common, managed in partnership with Surrey County Council.
• Events and Courses Nature-themed events, courses, workshops, talks, and holiday clubs for various age groups including families and youth, including practical conservation volunteering and wildlife awareness activities.
• Schools and Outreach Education Educational programs for primary and secondary schools including Nower Wood Education Centre visits, Nature Discovery Day School Visits, Bespoke Outdoor Learning, Wilder Schools Projects, and Nature Network and Training for Educators.
• Ecological Consultancy (SWT Ecology Services) Professional ecological consultancy providing habitat surveys, ecological assessments, BNG advice, and environmental consulting to landowners, developers, and organisations.
• Planning Advice Service Ecological planning advice for development projects, helping applicants navigate environmental considerations in planning applications.
• Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Credits Marketplace service enabling developers to purchase biodiversity net gain credits to offset their biodiversity impact as required by UK planning regulations.
• County Records Centre (SBIC) Surrey Biodiversity Information Centre providing wildlife recording data, species records, and ecological data services for the region.
• Nature-based Solutions Advisory Advisory services for landowners and communities on nature-based solutions including habitat creation, funding options, and case studies delivered through ArcGIS StoryMaps.
• Wildlife Webcams Live wildlife webcam feeds including bird feeder camera and nest box camera providing real-time public views of wildlife activity.
• Corporate Business Support Corporate membership packages, business donations, Reserve Guardians sponsorship, Wild Work Days team-building events, and broader corporate partnership offerings.
• Youth Action Programs Youth engagement programs including Duke of Edinburgh's Award opportunities, DofE Actions for Nature, Nature Journaling, Species Identification Guide, and the Youth Action Committee (YAC).
• Community Engagement (Wilder Communities) Community action programs including the Wilder Communities Network, wildlife recording loan kits, community group resources, and local neighbourhood conservation initiatives.
• Conservation Projects Conservation initiatives including Heathland Connections, Space4Nature, Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF), Hedgerow Heritage, and Surrey Important Grasslands Inventory.
• Wildlife Explorer Online species identification and information platform enabling users to explore wildlife by category (birds, mammals, marine life, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, fungi, wildflowers, trees and shrubs) with detailed species profiles, identification guides, conservation status, and distribution information.
• Donations and Fundraising Donation offerings including one-time gifts, regular donations, appeals (Save Surrey's Nature, Bringing back Beavers, Neighbourhoods for Nature, Wilder Acorn Fund), and legacy giving through Wills.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dartford warbler population recovered from 10 pairs to approximately 3,200 pairs through conservation efforts
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Surrey County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSurrey County Council manages public access to nature reserves while Surrey Wildlife Trust manages conservation. This partnership ensures reserves are accessible to the public while maintaining proper ecological management and habitat protection.
• The Wildlife Trusts (National Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSurrey Wildlife Trust is part of the national Wildlife Trusts network, a charity comprising 46 trusts across the UK working to restore biodiversity and connect people with nature.
• WildlifeWatch.org.ukminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChildren's activity resources and educational materials shared through the WildlifeWatch platform, providing free resources for educators and young nature enthusiasts.
• JustGivingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline fundraising platform integration allowing supporters to fundraise for Surrey Wildlife Trust through the JustGiving platform.
• Guildford Community LotteryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity lottery partnership where a portion of lottery proceeds support Surrey Wildlife Trust.
• Vine House FarmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBird food supplier featured on the trust's website, offering bird food products for garden wildlife through a commercial partnership.
• National Garden Survey (Wildlife Trusts)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with national Wildlife Trusts for the National Garden Survey, enabling citizen science data collection on garden wildlife.
• Don't Send Me A Card (E-cards)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity e-card platform allowing supporters to send digital greetings cards to benefit Surrey Wildlife Trust.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Trust: UK heritage and conservation charity managing countryside, gardens, and properties with a large membership base. Competes with SWT for membership signups and corporate partnerships in the same region.
• Woodland Trust: UK charity focused on woodland conservation and tree planting with a national membership base. Overlaps with SWT on woodland habitat work and competes for similar donor segments.
• RSPB: The UK's largest bird and wildlife conservation charity, running reserves, advocacy, and memberships. Operates at national scale and competes for overlapping individual and corporate donor pools.
• The Wildlife Trusts (National): Umbrella body coordinating the 46 regional Wildlife Trusts; sets national campaigns and shared platforms used by Surrey Wildlife Trust, and an enabling partner for shared resources.

Direct peers

• Sussex Wildlife Trust: Closest regional peer — a Wildlife Trust operating conservation, education, and reserves in a neighbouring South East county with the same revenue mix of memberships, donations, and consultancy.
• Kent Wildlife Trust: Sister Wildlife Trust serving the adjacent county with nature reserves, BNG credits, ecological consultancy, and education — directly comparable in scale, mission, and commercial diversification.
• Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust: Neighbouring regional Wildlife Trust operating an almost identical model: nature reserve management, membership-funded conservation, BNG credits, and ecological consultancy in adjacent southern English counties.

Emerging players

• Buglife: UK invertebrate conservation charity with a narrower mission but overlapping donor base, volunteer networks, and conservation policy advocacy.
• Environment Bank: Commercial BNG credit provider creating off-site biodiversity habitat to sell to developers. A direct competitor in the BNG credit marketplace that SWT is also entering.

Others

• Surrey County Council (Countryside Service): Public-sector partner that manages public access on SWT reserves; a key enabler and co-operator rather than a competitor, but its funding decisions directly affect SWT's operating environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/SurreyWildlifeTrust
• Facebookfacebook.com/SurreyWT
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/surreywt
• Instagraminstagram.com/surreywildlifetrust
• Xx.com/surreywt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Surrey Wildlife Trust