Leave a gift in your will

Orange-tip on Cuckooflower © Bob Eade

Wildlife in the UK is declining at an alarming rate. But leaving a gift to Sussex Wildlife Trust in your will is a great way to make a lasting contribution to wildlife locally.

These gifts, no matter how small, help us safeguard and nurture habitats and places in Sussex, so that local species can thrive for generations to come.

Download our Legacy Booklet

Please get in touch

If you have any questions, or would like to request a paper copy of our legacy booklet, you can contact Gemma Pratt by email at gemmapratt@sussexwt.org.uk or by phone on 01273 497566

Do something amazing for Sussex

Anyone can leave a gift to Sussex Wildlife Trust when making a will. It’s one of the easiest and most valuable ways you can support the Trust, ensuring we can:

Protect nature reserves

Protect the wonderfully rich natural life found across our iconic Sussex reserves

Restore wildlife

Encourage local wildlife back across Sussex, even in the most unlikely places

Inspire wonder and wellbeing

Help children and adults to learn and experience the joy and wellbeing that comes from connecting with nature

Campaign for change

Make sure nature has a voice and that we are speaking up for better planning and nature-friendly policies

Deliver a wilder Sussex

Help deliver our ambitious action plan for nature – Our Wild Sussex – which sets out our vision and commitment to turning the tide for wildlife

Letting us know your intentions

Your will is a private document and you’re under no obligation to tell us anything about it. But it would be lovely if you felt comfortable sharing your intentions with us, because then we’d be able to thank you in person for your amazing kindness.

Knowing that people are including us in their wills today gives us added confidence for tomorrow and helps us commit to important long-term projects.

To let us know you’ve included a gift to Sussex Wildlife Trust in your will, or that you intend to do so, please let us know by downloading and completing our legacy pledger form, or emailing us at gemmapratt@sussexwt.org.uk

We’d love to hear from you.

Make A Will Online

Free will-writing service

We’ve partnered with Make A Will Online so our supporters can make a simple will for free from the comfort of their own home.

The step-by-step process is designed to be clear and easy to follow and we will pay the cost of your will. Every will is reviewed by a fully qualified solicitor, and if you have questions about your circumstances, legal guidance is available.

Write your will for free today

The service also includes complimentary access to Capacity Vault, adding an extra layer of protection to help ensure your wishes are respected.

Make A Will Online will act only in your interest and on your instructions, and there is no obligation for you to leave a gift to Sussex Wildlife Trust. However, after providing for your loved ones, we hope you may consider leaving even a small share of your estate to Sussex Wildlife Trust to help us ensure that future generations can continue to experience the joy of our natural world.

Tree Bumblebee on Bluebell © Jon Hawkins

Good to know

When to consider meeting a solicitor in person

We always recommend getting legal advice when writing or updating your will.

While many people find an online will suitable, there are situations where meeting a solicitor in person may be advisable. For example:

If you already have a solicitor you trust
If your estate may exceed the current Inheritance Tax threshold (guidance is available at https://www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax)
If your affairs are complex, such as involving trusts or overseas property
If there are concerns about capacity, including dementia-related conditions or the impact of medication

You can search for a regulated solicitor through The Law Society website.

If you choose to leave a gift to Sussex Wildlife Trust through your solicitor, please ask them to use the following details:

Charity name: Sussex Wildlife Trust
Charity number: 207005
Registered address: First Floor, The Keep, Woollards Way, Brighton BN1 9BP

Your privacy

If you decide to make your will for free through Make a Will Online, certain details will be shared with us, including confirmation that a will has been completed, the type of gift pledged, and basic contact information such as your name, year of birth, email address and postal address. Where you provide consent, this enables us to thank you appropriately and keep you updated about our conservation work.

We understand that some supporters prefer to remain anonymous. If you would rather leave a gift without notifying us, you can still use the online service at Make A Will Online.

Legacy stories

Hear from some of our supporters on why they decided to remember Sussex Wildlife Trust in their wills.

Why I’ll be leaving a legacy gift to Sussex Wildlife Trust

Why we decided to remember Sussex Wildlife Trust in our wills

Why I decided to leave a legacy in my will to Sussex Wildlife Trust

Why I decided to leave a gift in my Will to Sussex Wildlife Trust

Frequently asked questions about leaving a gift in your will

How will my gift be used?

Legacies are usually unrestricted gifts, allowing us to use the funds wherever the need is greatest at that particular time. If you have a particular area of interest that you’d like to benefit please contact us to discuss your intentions.

I would like to include a gift to Sussex Wildlife Trust in my will. What information do I need?

When including a legacy to charity it’s important to specify the charity’s registered name, address and charity number. For Sussex Wildlife Trust these are:

Registered name: Sussex Wildlife Trust
Registered address: First Floor, The Keep, Woollards Way, Brighton, BN1 9BP
Registered charity number: 207005

Example wording

For a residuary gift to the Trust: “I give to Sussex Wildlife Trust, First Floor, The Keep, Woollards Way, Brighton, BN1 9BP (Registered Charity Number 207005) ……………………… (1% – 100%, or stated portion) of the residue of my estate for its general charitable purposes and I further declare that the receipt of the Honorary Treasurer or other proper officer of Sussex Wildlife Trust for the time being shall be a full and sufficient discharge for the said legacy.

For a pecuniary gift to the Trust: “I give the sum of £X to Sussex Wildlife Trust, First Floor, The Keep, Woollards Way, Brighton, BN1 9BP (Registered Charity Number 207005) for its general charitable purposes and I further declare that the receipt of the Honorary Treasurer or other proper officer of Sussex Wildlife Trust for the time being shall be a full and sufficient discharge for the said legacy.

How do I ensure my will is valid and accurate?

It is always best to have your will drawn up by a solicitor or qualified will-writer. A will is a legal document and trying to write your own can be difficult. One error could cause the whole document to be invalid.

I’ve already made my will. How can I change it to include a gift to the Trust?

You won’t need to rewrite your will unless you want to. A qualified solicitor can draft an amendment (called a codicil). It is a simple and inexpensive way to make a change to benefit wildlife. Do ask your solicitor about this.

Can Sussex Wildlife Trust act as executors of my will?

Unfortunately, we are unable to act as executors.