A WHITCHURCH biobank will be attempting to save rare UK wildlife with the support of the Postcode Local Trust.

Nature's SAFE was founded by Tullis Matson and has previously worked to safeguard endangered animal species from around the world, but will now also be looking to do the same in the UK.

The Postcode Local Trust is a grant a grant-giving charity enabled by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and last month it awarded Nature’s SAFE with £16,000 to be used to help save British wildlife.

Nature's SAFE helps save species by collecting, indefinitely storing and regenerating reproductive cells and cell lines from endangered animal species and the People's Postcode Lottery head of charities Laura Chow spoke about what the support means.

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She said: "People’s Postcode Lottery players are one of the biggest funders of environmental and conservation charities.

"This funding means Nature’s SAFE can expand its biobanking program for the first time to include native UK species.

"This exciting work will help protect and secure some of the most recognisable wildlife in the country."

Mr Matson is confident Nature's SAFE will be able to help reduce the decline of animal species within the UK.

He said: "As highlighted by Sir David Attenborough in the recent series “Wild Isles”, there is an urgency to save our native wildlife as well as endangered species from all around the world.

"We have some of the most amazing species, some subspecies of which can only be found here.

"It is as important for us to save species like the hedgehog and red squirrel as it is for us to save rhinos and tigers.

"The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.

"Nature’s SAFE can reverse this."

A Nature SAFE spokesperson mentioned the much-loved UK animal species under threat including hedgehogs.

They added: "According to the State of Nature report 2019, 41 percent of UK species have declined since the 1970s, and more than a quarter of UK mammal species are at real risk of extinction. 

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"Even our nation’s favourite garden visitor, the hedgehog, has declined by 95 percent since the 1950s and our wildcats are classed as critically endangered with only a handful left.

"However, there is hope.

"Nature’s SAFE is providing a way to secure these species for future generations through cryo conservation and freezing extinction."