I'm For Wildlife badges

I’m For Wildlife badges, first produced in the 1970s–80s and later reissued in updated designs, have become enduring emblems of both conservation and everyday activism.

Origins in Lincoln 🦔

The first I’m For Wildlife badges were created in the mid-1970s by the Society for the Promotion of Nature Conservation (SPNC). Founded in 1912 as a coordinating body for local naturalists’ trusts, the SPNC grew in influence in the postwar years. By the 1970s its headquarters in the Lincoln area oversaw national campaigns that helped define the identity of the Wildlife Trust movement. In 1981, the SPNC changed its name to the Royal Society for Nature Conservation (RSNC), reflecting its broadened scope and recognition. This organisation later evolved into today’s Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT), the umbrella for the UK’s Wildlife Trusts.

The I’m For Wildlife badges were one of SPNC’s most recognisable outreach tools. Some originals carry Lincoln contact details on the reverse, including examples inscribed “SPNC LINCOLN TEL·0522 52326.”

These early badges were large, cheerful button designs—often about 56 mm—depicting friendly animals such as hedgehogs, badgers, mice, dolphins, wrens, and deer. They carried the slogan “I’M FOR WILDLIFE” across the front. Distributed through Wildlife Trust branches, children’s groups, and outreach stalls, they helped create a sense of belonging. Trust reports from the 1980s note how children “wearing the ‘I’m for Wildlife’ T-shirts and badges are gaining a growing identity.”

The updated run 🐦

After the heyday of the 1970s–80s, the Wildlife Trusts revived the slogan with updated badge designs. These newer versions tended to be smaller, crisper, and more contemporary in style, moving away from the vintage illustrative look of the originals. The revival allowed the same message to reach new supporters while maintaining continuity with the movement’s history.

Design and meaning 🐾

Both the vintage and updated runs mix simplicity and warmth. Child-friendly imagery paired with a direct, first-person statement turned conservation into something personal and public: not confrontation, but care. The range of animals broadened appeal—whoever your favourite creature is, you can wear that love openly.

Collectors and legacy 🦌

'I’m For Wildlife' badges remain popular among collectors of UK conservation memorabilia. The original Lincoln-made examples connect directly to the Wildlife Trusts’ grassroots growth, while the later run keeps the slogan alive for new audiences. Together, they show how a small object can carry a long thread of community action.

In the end, the badge’s message still lands. Whether worn in the 1970s at a Wildlife Trust fair or pinned to a modern rucksack, 'I’m For Wildlife' says quietly but clearly: protecting nature is part of who we are.

Collectors' guide 🔍

☮️ Organisation: SPNC / RSNC

🕰️ Age: 1970s onwards

💎 Rarity: [2-5/10] Common to Hard to find

⚙️ Material: Tin

📏 Size: 5.5 cm diameter approx.as standard

🎨 Variations: I'm for the birds, I'm for wildflowers and I love butterflies

💰 Price Guide: £3 - £10

📌 Top Tip: The dolphin and whale badges are a crossover with RSPCA and therefore have extra appeal for collectors. The whale badge is a non-standard giant size measuring 7.5 cm diameter approx.

Rarity and collecting culture

While none of the designs were marketed as limited editions, a clear pecking order has emerged among collectors:

Era matters: The vintage SPNC/RSNC Lincoln-made badges (often 56 mm, with printed Lincoln contact details) are generally scarcer and more prized than later reissues.
Animal subjects: Hedgehog and badger designs appear most frequently. Deer, mouse, and wren variants surface less often, so clean examples can be harder to find.
Back-print and address variants: Badges carrying the “SPNC LINCOLN TEL·0522 52326” inscription or early RSNC details help pin down provenance and are favoured for their documentary value.
Size and construction: Earlier, larger button badges (paper/metal/plastic with safety-pin backs) feel distinctly of their era; later, smaller reprints can be more common.
Condition hierarchy: Many were worn by children, so unfaded fronts, bright inks, and straight pins are notably rarer. “Mint on card” (if any card survived) commands a premium.
Provenance and ephemera: A badge accompanied by a club leaflet, event flyer, or stall photo strengthens the story and typically the desirability.
Regional/event nuances: Some badges seem to cluster around specific trusts, fairs, or school programmes; those local or dated variants are keenly collected.
Misprints and quirks: Occasional colour shifts, off-register prints, or rim text quirks exist; these can be curios rather than value boosters, but specialists enjoy documenting them.

Practical tips for collectors include cataloguing both fronts and backs, noting where and when badges were acquired, storing them in dry and dark places, and sharing clear photos with honest condition notes when trading.