Buglife the Invertebrate Conservation Trust
Analysis
Buglife the Invertebrate Conservation Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Peterborough. It was registered in May 2002, 24 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 04132695). It says it provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.
In the financial year ending December 2025, Buglife the Invertebrate Conservation Trust reported income of £3.7m and spending of £2.8m, leaving 23% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £1.4m to £3.7m (+171%), an average of +28% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 49%. Over the whole period it spent 85% of the income it received.
Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, Buglife the Invertebrate Conservation Trust sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 97% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Accounting for Sustainability (£3.7m), Ribble Rivers Trust Limited (£3.8m) and Wonderseekers (£3.7m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 66%, donations and legacies 29%, trading 3.4% and investments 1.9%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £227k. Charitable activities took 95% of spending and raising funds 4.0%. Reserves of £1.3m would cover about 5 months of spending at that rate. It employed 46 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 23%
- Legacies 6.1%
- Charitable activities 66%
- Trading 3.4%
- Investments 1.9%
In the charity's own words
We aim to conserve invertebrates and their habitats, with current emphasis on surveys to assess the status of species in specific habitat-types, such as brownfields, soft rock cliffs and freshwater. Dissemination of our survey data, public education and the raising of awareness of the need to conserve invertebrates are also key activities. We also work to protect sites of special importance.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting for Sustainability | London | £3.7m |
| Ribble Rivers Trust Limited | Lancashire | £3.8m |
| Wonderseekers | Hampshire | £3.7m |
| The Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust Limited | Herts | £3.8m |