This is Daft!

[Flywaver]

Ok where i live i have Welney 15mins away which is.....WWT
I have Wicken Fen 20 mins away which is........NT
Then there is Lakenheath 30mins away and.......RSPB

So if membership is to be more appealing to locals then how about linking up.
Have they not looked into this? Just seems daft that reserves especially in Anglia they have nothing to do with each other...

[Boddie]

I agree. This could be quite an expensive membership process

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by Flywaver

Ok where i live i have Welney 15mins away which is.....WWT
I have Wicken Fen 20 mins away which is........NT
Then there is Lakenheath 30mins away and.......RSPB

So if membership is to be more appealing to locals then how about linking up.
Have they not looked into this? Just seems daft that reserves especially in Anglia they have nothing to do with each other...

Don't forget the local wildlife trust reserves! Mind you they are often free to get into.

Ive looked into WWT membership but on top of RSPB and Essex WT its a bit much plus there arn't any within where I often visit (London WWT is takes to long to get too). And the NT membership isn't worth it unless your into old buildings, round here anyway.

A 'local wildlife pass' could be an idea, at least in your area and other in similar situations

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

A 'local wildlife pass' could be an idea, at least in your area and other in similar situations

Which would include a public transport discount voucher too of course!

[fairplay]

There is no easy answer to this I'm afraid, I totally agree it sounds daft, even more so when it is agreed that bigger is better which is precisely what many wildlife organisations are trying to do.

Here on the Suffolk Coast we have many nature reserves run by different bodies which over the years are beginning to form one super reserve.
This has to be to the benefit of wildlife (and don't forget the RSPB isn't just about birds - if you create the right habitat that will bring in other wildlife from fungi to mammals)
Unfortunately there will always be locals who say you can't go anywhere now because the ** or ** or *** or the **** own it ! But if these bodies didn't buy the land, the shooting fraternity would have it, and NOBODY would have access then except the shooters.

The downside of course is that sometimes you have to be a member to enter some reserves, but this is a small price to pay when you consider the benefits to wildlife it brings - they need to raise money somehow otherwise we won't have these reserves.

Not all land comes onto the market at one time and some wildlife organisations have more money to spend than others, yet again another organisation may have different 'visions' than the others so may buy land which nobody else wants.
That is how the situation at Welney probably came about.

Neil.

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by Flywaver

....Just seems daft that reserves especially in Anglia they have nothing to do with each other...

Who says "they have nothing to do with each other"? I know for a fact that many conservation bodies (including some of those already mentioned in this thread) are in close liaison on various issues, especially at local level.

And as for any sort of discounted combined membership scheme, surely that simply means less money available to spend on conservation - do we really want that? As Neil says -

Originally Posted by fairplay

..... but this is a small price to pay when you consider the benefits to wildlife it brings - they need to raise money somehow otherwise we won't have these reserves.......Neil.

Jeff

[SheffieldLass]

The pass idea would be a good one, limited to a few named local reserves, so you're not getting an unfair advantage over members. I think it could boost revenues not reduce them. Certainly the sort of thing I would buy. Better than no membership fee at all.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by JeffH

Who says "they have nothing to do with each other"? I know for a fact that many conservation bodies (including some of those already mentioned in this thread) are in close liaison on various issues, especially at local level.

And as for any sort of discounted combined membership scheme, surely that simply means less money available to spend on conservation - do we really want that?

A fair point Jeff. My thought would be that the pass might encourage a visit to all the reserves, when they would have just gone to one otherwise and perhaps encourage people to visit them, increasing the amount of income for all. But whenther that would acually be the case is up for debate I guess

[tufftie]

I would have thought that a pass to include all local nature reserves would generate more income and visitors than lots of separate passes. Although not nature reserves they use this idea for the tourist attractions things in Hastings castle etc) and I assume it works as it's been in place for a number of years now.

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

A fair point Jeff. My thought would be that the pass might encourage a visit to all the reserves, when they would have just gone to one otherwise and perhaps encourage people to visit them, increasing the amount of income for all. But whenther that would acually be the case is up for debate I guess

Originally Posted by tufftie

I would have thought that a pass to include all local nature reserves would generate more income and visitors than lots of separate passes.....

You may both be right but I can't help thinking that any increase in income would perhaps be outweighed by the additional administrative costs involved in such a scheme and for all the organisations concerned.

In my personal opinion, the admission/membership fees charged by most conservation organisations already represent excellent value for money for what they offer and when compared with the costs/charges attached to many other activities/hobbies/interests. Look at the costs of attending a football match, going to the cinema or even having a couple of drinks down the pub

Jeff