Our wonderful Welsh winter arrived in a flurry of the white stuff, and Christmas is now fast approaching. Whatever your circumstances, there are so many different ways you could support Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, and become involved in its work to protect and nurture our precious local wildlife.

You may wish to become a member or a volunteer (like me!). You could become a champion for wildlife at home and in your local community, or help take action for nature by supporting Wildlife Trust campaigns. Or you could simply choose to do some of your Christmas shopping at one of their shops this year. Whichever you choose, every little thing helps them complete their mission to forge a wilder Montgomeryshire.

So, what are the 12 ways?

1. Become a member - or buy a gift membership for a loved one

Whether you become a member, renew a longstanding membership or buy a gift membership for a friend or family member this Christmas, MWT is a membership charity and members play a vital role in everything the Trust does. By becoming a member, you’re directly supporting local wildlife conservation work. Benefits include receiving an informative welcome pack, receiving three issues of members’ magazine ‘Otter’ each year, and free entry to 15 publicly accessible nature reserves and world class visitor hub, the Dyfi Wildlife Centre. For details, click here.

2. Join a merry band of volunteers

The Trust describes their volunteers as their 'lifeblood', and those people who give up their free time for the Trust help them fulfil their wild mission. Plus, the feeling of giving back is a reward in itself! There are many, very different, opportunities available to suit everyone’s strengths and circumstances. Options include hands-on conservation work, such as reserve maintenance and habitat management; people engagement, such as at the Dyfi Osprey Project; wildlife surveys and monitoring, whilst learning from conservation officers; staffing a shop or Dyfi Wildlife Centre Caffi; or administrative work behind the scenes, helping with tasks without which the Trust cannot function. You could even write a blog about a topic close to your heart! For more information, click here.

3. Adopt a wild animal!

Whether you love the endearing Hazel Dormouse or the majestic Osprey you may wish to do more for these incredible animals, which have become iconic species for the county. The Trust’s ‘Adopt an Osprey’ and ‘Adopt a Dormouse’ schemes are a fantastic way to support your favourite wildlife conservation charity. With packs including exclusive prints of artworks by local artists and welcome letters, they also make wonderful gifts for nature-lovers at any time of the year, including Christmas. All proceeds go towards conserving and protecting these creatures and many others in this special, wild corner of Mid Wales. Details can be found here.

4. Help out wildlife at home

Whether you feed the birds, have a pond, provide habitat for wildlife in the form of log piles, nest boxes or hedgehog hotels, or plant pollinator-friendly flowers, this all helps create a wilder Montgomeryshire on your doorstep. If you then inspire friends and neighbours to follow suit, by sharing experiences, inspiration and tips, then you have the power, as a wildlife champion, to make even more of a difference where you live. Here are some ideas.

5. Campaign for wildlife

Some national petitions and campaigns have the potential to make a huge difference to wildlife across Wales, such as the recent petition for legislation to install Swift bricks to all new buildings in Wales which could turn around the fortunes of this incredible but fast-declining bird. Other campaigns are more localised but equally important, such as speaking out for immeasurably important wildlife habitat by telling decision-makers why the Montgomery Canal's wildlife matters to you and backing MWT’s calls for sensitive, appropriate restoration. Signing, supporting and sharing campaign actions like these is a fantastic way for anyone passionate about the future of wildlife to lend their voice to these campaigns.

6. Leave a Legacy for local wildlife

Some people might choose to include a gift to the Trust in their Will, once they’ve taken care of family or loved ones. These ‘legacies’ could be used to help secure important habitats and species through the purchase and management of nature reserves, or to engage with people of all ages to inspire a passion for wildlife. If this is something that does interest you, MWT has a partnership with the Will writers, Octopus Legacy (they were formerly called Guardian Angel), who will help supporters write their Will online for free and have it checked by an expert afterwards. It doesn’t have to be a large amount - any gift left in a Will, no matter how small it may seem, can make a world of difference to wildlife.

7. Join in with events

The Trust runs nature-themed events year-round – although the calendar is unsurprisingly busier in the summer! They’re a good opportunity to hone your wildlife knowledge, find out how you can take action for nature and meet other like-minded people, helping create a bigger, stronger community of wildlife champions! They’re also sometimes a chance to hear from experts about what’s happening locally and globally. Forthcoming events include a talk by Simon Boyes on Birds of Paradise in New Guinea and Ros Green and Al Wilson on Counting Penguins in Antarctica. Further details and future events can be found at the Trust's events page.

8. Shop for nature

The Trust has two fantastic shops; one at the main office in Welshpool and the other at the Dyfi Wildlife Centre on Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve just outside Machynlleth. Both are packed full of nature-inspired gifts, books, cards and calendars, some locally sourced, plus wildlife supplies such as nest boxes and hedgehog homes. Many of the same lovely items that on sale in these physical stores are also available through their online shop. All proceeds go towards conservation work in Montgomeryshire.

9. Play the People’s Postcode Lottery

People's Postcode Lottery is a charity lottery in Great Britain where players play with their postcodes to win cash prizes while raising money for charities. The support Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust has received from funding raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, (awarded through Postcode Planet Trust) has enabled some invaluable work. Just this year funding raised by players has helped fund wildlife surveys, specifically for the Hazel Dormouse, and community action in the local area with a focus on the Swift. Plus, if you play, you’re in with a chance of winning a cash prize or vouchers! Details can be found here.

10. Be a fab fundraiser

Fundraising for your favourite charity can be a really rewarding way to give back. Plus, fundraising activities are often fun to do with friends and family, especially younger children. You can do whatever you like, whenever you like, whether that’s holding a bake sale, getting sponsored to walk or run, or getting your head shaved!

Or, if that sounds too time-consuming, why not just shop online and sign up to easyfundraising? Every time you shop online with one of more than 7,000 brands (such as M&S, Argos, Waitrose, Booking.com, John Lewis, The Body Shop, to name but a few), the store makes a donation to your chosen charity at no charge to you. It won’t cost you a penny extra, and it’s free to sign up too!

11. Ask your council to make space for nature

Talk to your local council about making space for nature, such as with more sympathetic management of roadside verges and hedgerows, and planting wildflowers in parks and avoiding chemical use. Powys County Council has several initiatives to support wildlife in the area, including Powys Nature Partnership. This is a network of individuals and organisations that work together to restore biodiversity in Powys.

12. Be an ambassador for local wildlife and the Trust

Be a Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust ambassador by talking about their work or championing local wildlife with colleagues, friends and family. You could take part in festive nature challenge, '12 Days Wild', this Christmas? Or have fun with random acts of wildness in the summer with '30 Days Wild' instead. If you’re on social media, simply following MWT and liking and sharing those posts that speak to you is a great way to lend your support, digitally.

By getting involved with the Trust you can help protect the wildlife and wild places where you live for you, your children, grandchildren, friends and your community – and not just for Christmas.