About 26 Wild

Take a moment to think about the wild animals you loved most in your childhood – perhaps through story.

Then think what might have happened to that animal since. Many of our most treasured species, once thriving, are now at risk of disappearing in the UK – often because of human activities and loss of habitat.

A close partnership with The Wildlife Trusts, this project pairs 56 writers with 56 endangered species (52 in the UK and 4 from the rest of the world) to explore their disappearing and potential recovery. Each writer has created a 100-word piece (a centena) and shared what they discovered about their species and how we might prevent their tragic disappearance. We hope you’ll enjoy exploring our 56 wonderful creatures as much as we did.

The Wildlife Trusts

The Wildlife Trusts is a grassroots movement of people from a wide range of backgrounds and all walks of life. Everyone needs nature and nature needs us, and so The Wildlife Trusts work hard to make nature part of life, and to help to make life better – for wildlife, for people and for future generations. Each Wildlife Trust is an independent charity, formed by people getting together to make a positive difference to wildlife and future generations, starting where they live. 

We want to see a wilder future. The natural world is valuable in its own right, and is the foundation of our wellbeing and prosperity. Yet recent analysis shows the UK is currently one of most nature-depleted countries in the world. The Wildlife Trusts want to see nature recovering everywhere, for everyone’s sake, across at least 30% of our land and seas by 2030.