A £280,000 fundraising campaign has been launched to help nearby struggling wildlife at "crisis point".

The Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust is calling for the help in safeguarding some of the UK's most cherished wildlife.

The UK ranks among the most nature-depleted nations globally, with approximately one in six species in Great Britain teetering on the brink of extinction, according to the State of Nature report.

The report also revealed that in the past 100 years, brown hares have suffered a decline of above 80 per cent.

Additionally, turtle doves have reported a 99 per cent drop since the 1960s, along with a 68 per cent decrease in common toads over the past 30 years.

Since 1970, flowering plant species have dropped by 54 per cent, as has 18 per cent of pollinators.

Celebrating its 60th anniversary, the Trust currently faces escalating obstacles due to rising costs, apart from the pre-existing nature and climate crisis.

Chloë Edwards, director of Nature Recovery at Herts and Middlesex Trust, said: "We have the solutions and skills to reverse the devastating declines we are seeing and to restore nature.

"Our conservation projects join-up fragmented habitats and bring species back to restore nature-rich, resilient habitats.

"However, in addition to being mid-way through the most pivotal decade of our lives in the nature and climate crises, we are facing a financial crisis too, with escalating essential costs limiting our ability to act.

"Investment is needed now, and more than ever."

"To drive nature’s recovery forward, our campaign is looking to raise £280,000 from our supporters and local people who care about the wildlife and wild spaces on their doorsteps.

"We know we are not alone in feeling the pinch of rising costs but we all need a world where we can breathe, and thrive amidst the sights, sounds and colours of nature.

"We appreciate any donation which will enable us to continue restoring vital ecosystems and supporting our most vulnerable wildlife."

To find out more and to support Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust's ongoing work, visit hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/crisis.