National Lottery Open Week: #ThanksToYou

Since 1994, the RSPB has received vital support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery Community Fund, enabling us to do more to protect nature, save wildlife and connect people to nature across the UK.  

It’s #ThanksToYou, National Lottery players, that some of our most ambitious projects have been possible. To show our appreciation, we’d like to offer a special welcome to National Lottery players on our nature reserves. Across the UK, 21 participating reserves are offering a range of free activities, including free entry or free guided walks, for visitors who present a valid National Lottery ticket or scratch card. 

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has funded a wide range of RSPB projects over the last 30 years. These include:  

• The groundbreaking Rethink Nature’s partnership Back from the Brink. This has transformed the fortunes of 96 species across England, improving their conservation status.  
• In Northern Ireland, funding to support conservation on Rathlin Island through the LIFE Raft programme is helping to protect the island’s seabirds, including Puffins.   
• Funding from the Welsh Government through the Heritage Fund Nature Networks programme has been a catalyst to a major peatland restoration programme. 
• In Scotland, the Flows to the Future programme has been instrumental in restoring the region’s peatlands and laid the foundations for the World Heritage Site designation of the Flow Country.  

Much of the funding has also supported us to empower individuals, local communities and RSPB local groups to connect and save nature where they are. These include initiatives such as Wild about Hampstead Heath in London and Dolphinwatch in Aberdeen, both funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Meanwhile the Nature Neighbourhoods Programme, a partnership between the National Trust, RSPB, WWF, National Lottery Community Fund and Co-op is supporting communities to co-design an action plan for nature in their neighbourhoods.

Get your ticket or scratch card at the ready, and check out the RSPB nature reserves taking part below.

Terms and Conditions apply, please refer to reserve offers for more information. Pre-booking is required for events and numbers are limited.