For many years, I've told myself "I'm too young! I don't need a will, I'm not married and I don't have children!" All these things still apply (although one might argue I no longer fit in the "young" category!), but what has changed is my view of whether I need a will or not.  

You might also be one of those people, like myself, who have felt like you shouldn’t have to worry about writing a will right now; maybe you don't own a house, or you feel that you are not wealthy enough to need a will. Sometimes we need a big life moment to help us get it over the line. For some people, having kids, getting married or divorced, or simply experiencing a bereavement within the family will prompt them to write their will. For me personally, turning 30 reminded me that even though I haven't reached many of these milestones, contrary to popular belief, you’re never too young or too old to write your will. The reality is everyone should consider making a will if they want control over what happens to everything they own after they die, and want to make sure the people and causes that they care about are taken care of. 

I grew up with a love of wildlife, and some of my fondest childhood memories are centred around my time spent outdoors with my grandparents. From making homemade fat balls with my Grandma in the kitchen for the garden birds, to collecting the frogs and snails that lived in the long grass in a bucket so my Grandad could tidy the garden without harming any of them, wildlife has always been a big part of my life. This love is the reason I am proud to work for and support the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside.  

However, like many people my age, I'm in a period of my life where I cannot donate to charities as regularly as I'd like to. With no dependents to look after with my will, it was important to me to ensure that my legacy left a lasting impact amongst the charities that are close to my heart. Leaving a gift in my will is an action that I can take now, which will have a significant impact for the future of Lancashire's wildlife. Most importantly for my position, it allows me to make a difference without experiencing the financial impact that I would if I was donating my money now. What's also great is that it doesn't need to be a significant gift to make a huge difference – any amount left in a will, no matter what the size, will help the Lancashire Wildlife Trust to continue protecting wildlife. 

At the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, we’ve partnered with Octopus Legacy, formerly known as Guardian Angel, to offer a free will writing service. Having taken advantage of this offering, I found the online form so easy to use and I didn't even need to meet with a solicitor. I added all the things I would like to happen after I'm gone, who I want to leave my more precious items to, and of course included a gift for The Lancashire Wildlife Trust. I am so grateful for this simple, fast, free will service. It is a huge weight off my mind, something I have finally checked off my to do list and most importantly, I feel like I am contributing in a small way to secure the future of wildlife.  

Whilst I hope that there will be many years before my gift reaches the Trust, it reassures me that the wildlife I know and love has a safeguarded future; that the deer I love to catch a glimpse of on my daily dog walks, the owls that swoop overhead in my garden at night and the lapwings that return to the field near my house to breed year after year will hopefully still be around, thanks to the wonderful work of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust.