Stuck for that perfect gift idea? Fed up of wasting paper? Our virtual gift will make an environmentally responsible, unique and thoughtful present for a loved one and will help to ensure that our flower-filled nature reserves are humming with bees.

We will send a beautiful e-card to your loved one via email, telling them that this gift has helped Worcestershire Wildlife Trust protect habitats across the county for these amazing pollinators. The e-card also can be personalised with your own special message.

Numbers of bees have fallen dramatically in recent years. In the 1950’s there were over 50 native species of bee in the UK, yet now there are just 25! Intensive farming and urban sprawl have decimated the flowery meadows that bees feed in and many of Britain’s rarest bees are now in real trouble.

Bees are nature's hardest working gardeners, pollinating fruit trees, vegetables and flowers in our gardens, farmland and natural spaces. Bees thrive on nature reserves where there is a good supply of nectar-rich flowers throughout their active season - it was the highlight of 2010 when we found the rare brown-banded carder bee on our Wilden Marsh reserve.

Your gift will be used to create new habitats for bees and to restore and protect important wildflower meadows across Worcestershire.

* Worcestershire Wildlife Trust is entitled to reclaim the tax made on gifts by UK tax payers. This means that if you are a UK tax payer, your donation can increase by 25% - at no extra cost to you. If you choose to gift aid your donation, please remember that you need to have paid an amount of UK Income and/or Capital Gains tax in any tax year at least equal to the amount claimed by all the charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs you donate to, (currently 25p per £1 donated). If this will not be the case or you cease to be a taxpayer, please let us know. Also, if you pay less income tax and/or capital gains tax in the current year than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all your donations it is your responsibility to pay any difference.

Photo by Wendy Carter