Help Wildlife Groundswell Restore Nature on the Lizard Peninsula

At Wildlife Groundswell CIC, we believe in the power of community to restore and protect nature. As a volunteer-led conservation group, we work with local people to enhance the biodiversity of the Lizard Peninsula, fostering resilient and thriving ecosystems. 

Our work focuses around three key aims:

•    Boosting wildlife: joined up action to stimulate wildlife diversity and abundance, making it as easy as possible for anyone to contribute.

•    Increasing carbon capture: planting trees and harnessing the power of the soil, scrubland, and wetland to maximise carbon capture and biodiversity.

•    Linking nature and community: starting conversations and hosting events to build community awareness and involvement.

From monitoring river health and bat populations to installing swift nest boxes and running educational initiatives, our projects empower people to take direct action for nature recovery. Our vision is a landscape where wildlife flourishes and communities are deeply connected to the natural world.

Our Crowdfunder

We’re launching this crowdfunder to expand our impact—enabling more people to get involved in conservation and ensuring local wildlife can thrive. Your support will help fund vital equipment, training, and outreach, allowing us to grow our projects. Specifically, donations will support swift nest box installation, bat monitoring, river health surveying, community education, and the essential running costs of our organisation.

Together, we can create lasting change for nature on the Lizard Peninsula. Join us and be part of the groundswell for wildlife recovery!

What Your Support Will Help Fund

1. Protecting Our Rivers

Rivers and streams are the lifeblood of our ecosystems, supporting a rich variety of wildlife. However, pollution, habitat degradation, and climate change are threatening their health. Through citizen science initiatives, we are working to monitor and safeguard water quality, ensuring early detection of pollution and helping conservation organizations take action. Findings will be recorded on the Cartographer database, allowing conservation organisations and local authorities to track trends and respond to pollution incidents.

What We've Achieved So Far

Wildlife Groundswell has been actively involved in testing water quality in streams on the Lizard and Helford Rivers as part of the Westcountry Trust’s Citizen Science Investigation (CSI) project. By engaging trained volunteers, we have gathered vital data on aquatic health, identifying potential pollution threats and contributing to a broader understanding of freshwater ecosystems in the region.

To find out more about our stream monitoring work, visit our page here.

How Your Support Will Help

To expand this work and strengthen local monitoring efforts, we are seeking funding for essential resources:

•    Riverfly Partnership kits (£670) – Specialist equipment that enables volunteers to collect and analyse aquatic invertebrates, key indicators of river health.

•    Training packs for volunteers (£250) – Educational materials to support community-led monitoring and data collection.

•    Instructor training event costs (£100) – To train local leaders who can oversee and grow the program, ensuring more people are equipped with the necessary skills.

With your help, we can expand our river monitoring efforts, helping to protect freshwater habitats and ensure cleaner, healthier rivers for wildlife and people alike.

2. Creating Homes for Swifts

Swifts are among the most iconic and acrobatic birds of the British summer, but their numbers are plummeting due to habitat loss. Traditional nesting sites in old buildings and churches are disappearing, leaving them with fewer places to breed. Our Swift Project aims to combat this decline by installing bespoke swift nest boxes in church belfries across the Lizard Peninsula, creating safe, long-term nesting opportunities for these remarkable birds.

What We've Achieved So Far

Wildlife Groundswell has engaged local communities in swift conservation through swift box-making workshops, where volunteers build and install nest boxes while learning about swift ecology. Thanks to this collective effort, we have installed over 150 swift boxes across the Lizard Peninsula, providing much-needed nesting spaces and increasing the chances of swifts returning each year.

One key project took place at St. Wynwallow’s Church, where we installed six nest boxes behind the slate louvres in the south-facing section of the belfry, offering a secure and sheltered breeding site.

To find out more about our swift conservation work, visit our project page.

How Your Support Will Help

To expand our impact, we aim to install more swift boxes and enhance our monitoring efforts:

•    Swift nest box materials and installation for 3 more church belfrys (£900) – Each belfry will receive 6–10 expertly designed nest boxes.

•    Swift call systems – Audio devices that attract swifts to the new nesting sites, increasing the chances of successful colonisation.

•    Community education – Raising awareness of the plight of swifts and engaging local communities in their protection.

Our previous swift box installations have already shown positive results, and with your help, we can expand this vital initiative to more locations!

3. Monitoring & Protecting Bat Populations

Bats are vital to our ecosystems, acting as natural pest controllers and pollinators, yet many species face severe threats from habitat loss and human disturbance. Our Bat Monitoring Project aims to map and protect local bat populations through structured surveying, community engagement, and conservation action.

What We've Achieved So Far

Wildlife Groundswell has already made a start understanding the bat populations on the Lizard. We have hosted bat talks at Rosuick Farm and led summer bat monitoring walks across farms and parkland on the Lizard Peninsula, where volunteers identified a range of species, including soprano pipistrelle, noctule, common pipistrelle and greater horseshoe bats.

To find out more about our bat monitoring work, visit our page here.

How Your Support Will Help

To build on this work, we need funding for essential equipment, training, and outreach:

•    Echometer ‘Touch 2’ bat detectors (£750) – Advanced devices that enable volunteers to detect and identify bat species by their echolocation calls.

•    Roost identification and monitoring evenings – Public events where participants learn how to recognise bat roosts and contribute to conservation efforts.

•    Partnerships with conservation groups – Collaborating with the Cornwall Bat Group and other organisations to contribute crucial data to national conservation initiatives.

By enhancing our understanding of bat populations, we can advocate for stronger protection measures and inspire more people to appreciate and safeguard these incredible creatures.

4. Inspiring & Educating the Community

Public engagement is at the heart of what we do. Without awareness and involvement, conservation efforts can only go so far. That’s why we host educational talks, workshops, and training sessions throughout the year, empowering residents and visitors with knowledge and practical skills to take meaningful action for nature.

Since 2021 a highlight of our work has been our annual Wildlife Groundswell conference, all vibrant and inclusive events celebrating biodiversity, sustainable practices, and community-driven conservation. Featuring expert speakers, hands-on workshops, and inspiring fringe activities, the conferences provided attendees with practical ways to contribute to local wildlife protection. They have also offered key updates on our projects, showcasing our commitment to grassroots conservation and highlighting the real impact of community action.

Alongside the conferences, we regularly hold smaller events around the Lizard, covering a range of conservation topics linked to our different projects. These gatherings create vital opportunities for learning, discussion, and community-building, ensuring that as many people as possible can get involved.

How Your Support Will Help

To expand our reach and enhance our events, we need funding for:

• Guest speaker fees and event expenses (£500) – Bringing in experts to share insights on biodiversity, conservation strategies, and local ecology.
• Village hall hire for presentations and training (£120) – Ensuring accessible venues for community learning.
• A projector for community presentations (£700) – Providing high-quality visual aids to enrich learning experiences.

With your support, we can continue to inspire, educate, and empower even more people to take action for nature.

5. Sustaining Our Work

As a grassroots, volunteer-run organisation, we rely on small but essential overheads to keep Wildlife Groundswell running smoothly. These funds allow us to communicate with supporters, maintain our online presence, and ensure legal compliance.

• Website hosting & newsletter platform (£403) – Maintaining an up-to-date online hub where people can learn about our projects and get involved.
• Public liability insurance (£137) – Covering events and volunteer activities to ensure safety and security.
• Annual reporting and administration (£50) – Keeping our organisation in good standing with Companies House and other regulatory bodies.

Why This Matters

The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, and Cornwall is no exception. Through hands-on conservation, training, and community involvement, we’re creating real change—one swift box, one river sample, and one volunteer at a time.

Our projects are shaped by the hundreds of Lizard residents who attend our open meetings, events, and annual conferences. By supporting Wildlife Groundswell, you’re not just funding equipment—you’re helping build a movement for nature recovery on the Lizard Peninsula.

Be Part of the Groundswell

Every donation, big or small, makes a difference. Whether you’re sponsoring a nest box, funding training for a volunteer, or spreading the word about our work, you’re helping to create a wilder, more resilient future for our local wildlife.

Join us. Let’s restore nature together.