Top 100: Cost of living crisis comes home to roost at WWT

Despite its biggest single donation ever of £20 million-plus it is the impact of the cost of living crisis on its bottom line that stands out in the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust's last financial year.

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One of Gloucestershire’s star attractions – and a business dedicated to enhancing the natural world in a way few can match – has revealed the impact of the cost of living crisis on its operations.

Founded in Gloucestershire in 1946 by artist and ornithologist Peter Scott, a man Sir David Attenborough described Scott as “the patron saint of conservation”, The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust is now a significant operation.

With 10 reserves and visitor centres UK-wide, including its Severn-side visitor attraction at Slimbridge, the WWT brings in millions of pounds annually from numerous income streams, enough to rank it in Raikes’ perpetual Top 100 Businesses in Gloucestershire – the county’s biggest businesses by turnover.

But despite lots of highs, including its single biggest donation to date – a £21 million donation from insurance giant Aviva – its figures for its financial year ending 31 March 2023 were dented significantly by the nationwide cost of living crisis.

Nevertheless, it remains one of one of the biggest 100 companies in the county by turnover, and as a result part of Raikes’ rolling Top 100 Businesses in Gloucestershire listing.

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