Three questions with an RSPB Legacy and In Memoriam Adviser

What is your role and what does it entail?

As a Legacy and In Memoriam Adviser, my role has two main parts. I support people who are thinking about leaving a gift in their Will to the RSPB, helping them understand the impact they can make and inviting them to events to see conservation in action. I also work closely with families who want to remember a loved one on one of our nature reserves, helping them to create personal and meaningful tributes – from plaques to habitat restoration – that celebrate both their life and their love of nature.

What has been your biggest success so far?

What stands out most is helping families at such personal moments and making things feel a little easier for them. One example was a family based abroad who wanted to scatter ashes and install a memorial plaque at RSPB Minsmere. With careful planning, we coordinated everything to be ready within their short visit. They were so grateful to have that time and space to remember their loved one. Moments like that really stay with you, knowing you’ve helped create something meaningful that also supports nature is incredibly rewarding.

RSPB Legacy and In Memoriam Adviser Alex Pilling

What current projects are you working on?

There’s always something exciting happening! I’m working on supporter events across East Anglia and the Midlands, including visits to RSPB Havergate Island and the wader spectacular at RSPB Snettisham. I’ve also helped develop a beautiful memorial tree sculpture at RSPB Coombes Valley, with dedications on oak leaf-shaped plaques.

At RSPB Minsmere, we’re planning new benches in peaceful spots to improve accessibility and enable peaceful reflection in these spaces. It’s great to be part of projects that both enhance our nature reserves and give people meaningful ways to connect with them while celebrating loved ones.

What is the main message you want to share with readers?

Every one of us has the power to shape the future of nature, and a gift in your Will, no matter the size, can leave a legacy that lasts far beyond a single lifetime and helps create a world richer in nature.

So many of the RSPB’s biggest conservation achievements have only been possible because supporters chose to remember nature in this special way. Legacy gifts have quietly been behind many of the places and successes people value today. But legacies aren’t just about large projects, they are about hope, continuity and belief in a future where wildlife has space to flourish. They allow the next generation to experience the same joy, connection and sense of wonder that birds and nature have given us.

I want readers to know that your connection to nature can shape the world long after today. Even a small gift can safeguard habitats, protect species and ensure future generations inherit a world richer in wildlife.

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