A charity helping to save some of the world’s most threatened habitats and species is urging people to ‘measure up’ for a new fundraising campaign.

Backed by conservationists including Bill Oddie and Chris Packham, the Halesworth-based World Land Trust wants green-fingered folk to pledge their plots for the Great Garden Give and help extend protected nature reserves across the globe.

Running until July 13, the campaign calls on anyone with a garden to estimate its size in square metres, enter the amount into a calculator on its website and then make the suggested donation - 2.5p per sq m or £2.50 for the average-sized garden of 100 sq m. Each donation will allow the charity to secure the future of the same-sized area of rainforest, or other threatened habitat, in Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia or Mexico.

World Land Trust chief executive, John Burton, said: “The Great Garden Give is a quick, easy and affordable way for gardeners all over Britain to show they care about the future of the wild world - not just in their own back yards, but in areas all over the planet where vital habitats are shrinking fast and threatened species could soon be lost forever.”

Former MP and Royal Horticultural Society council member, Sir Kenneth Carlisle and his wife, the former Country Life columnist and author, Carla Carlisle, are supporting the campaign by giving the gardens at their Wyken Hall home, in Stanton, Bury St Edmunds.

World Land Trust is using the campaign to promote better eco-awareness at home as well as abroad, creating a list of tips to help people look after the wildlife on their doorstep.

Charity ambassador, Bill Oddie, is also a supporter. He said: “I can honestly say my day is not complete if I don’t spend at least half an hour in my garden. It is an escape, a retreat and a playground. It is also my own little nature reserve.

“My garden is, I admit, somewhat quirky. My wife calls it ludicrous. Fair enough, but it’s mine!”

For more information about the Great Garden Give and to make a donation visit worldlandtrust.org/great-garden-give.