How gifts in wills have made a difference: Sally's legacy

A third of all the work we do is made possible by gifts in wills. Emily Baum shares the story of her aunt, Sally Whitaker, and the growing new woodland she wanted to help protect for her grand nieces and nephews to enjoy.

Video length: 00:02:07

My aunt decided to leave a gift in her will because she had nieces, nephews. She didn't have any kids of her own but she had grand nieces and grand nephews and I think she really liked the idea that they would be able to sit under a tree and read a book like she loved to do.

And just, I think she really liked the idea of doing something that meant that there was an area of woodland that was ring fenced for everyone to enjoy.

My name is Emily Baum and my auntie was Sally Whitaker.

It's really easy for us to take all of this for granted but it's not guaranteed that the trees are going to be here tomorrow, the next day. But it's so important to have access to green spaces and to particularly wooded spaces for our own mental health, to feel like you've escaped for a little bit. You can sit, you can look at the trees, you can look at the greenery and just enjoy being outside which is so important.

But we have to make sure that we take care of them, the trees, because they take care of us.

The Woodland Trust has used my aunt's legacy to plant a brand new wood up in Leicestershire which is amazing because again it safeguards the trees for another generation and they'll be able to watch and enjoy them grow. They've also dedicated a beautiful bench to her up there which is enjoyed on a day-to-day basis by local residents which is fab.

I think if my aunt was here today and she was talking about leaving a gift to the Woodland Trust she'd say why not. You leave a footprint of yourself behind for future generations.