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Immediate
Release …. 3 August
2007
THE
NEST GENERATION
The
launch of a new partnership
On
Friday 17 August, at 11.30, The Wildlife Trusts’ chairman, Michael
Allen, and chief executive, Stephanie Hilborne, will launch a new
partnership between The Wildlife Trusts and conservation award-winning
Vine House Farm. The launch will take place at this year’s Birdfair -
the biggest and most varied bird and wildlife event in the world. The
exact location will be The Wildlife Trusts’ stand in marquee 3, stands
41-44.
Birdfair 2007 takes place on Friday 17 – Sunday 19 August at the Anglian
Water Birdwatching Centre on the Egleton Nature Reserve, Rutland Water,
9am-5.30pm daily.
The Wildlife Trusts recognise farmers hold a key to the well-being of our
countryside and, in turn, the health of our wildlife.
Gardeners manage a vast area of the
UK
too; gardens are estimated
to cover about 270,000 hectares – more than the area of all the National
Nature Reserves in the
UK
.
One way everyone can discover and re-discover the wonder of nature, is to
feed, and provide habitats for, garden birds and other wildlife visitors
to our gardens. In doing so, wildlife corridors are created, which
are vital to ensure wildlife has enough room to adapt to threats including
climate change.
Vine House Farm helps the public to achieve this by selling bird seed. Lucy
Watts, daughter of Nicholas Watts who owns Vine House Farm, explains: “We
started selling wild bird seed almost by mistake when my father held an
open day in aid of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust at one of our farm yards to
show people the incredible number of birds we had feeding there. Some of
the visitors were so impressed that they asked where they could buy the
bird seed. The same happened the following year and hence Vine House Farm
Bird Foods was born! My father first became a member of the
Lincolnshire
Wildlife Trust in 1964 when he was twenty one, so we are very pleased
about the partnership having long supported The Wildlife Trusts.”
Nicholas Watts adds: “The Wildlife
Trusts and Vine House Farm, in
Lincolnshire
, aim to reverse the decline of wildlife and enhance the variety of
species in the
UK
. Through the conservation work it has undertaken, Vine House Farm is
seeing increases in bird populations compared to national populations
which are either static or declining.”
Michael Allen, chairman of The Wildlife Trusts, said: “We are delighted to bring wildlife-friendly farming and gardening
together by working with Vine House Farm, whose active commitment to
conservation, and to sustainable and ethical supply chains, makes it a
natural partner to The Wildlife Trusts.
“Wildlife
has had to adapt to climatic fluctuations in the past but the current
scale and rate of change places much greater pressure on habitats and
species. Large areas of
natural habitat, which once acted as buffers against change, have been
replaced with barriers such as urban development or intensive agriculture.
That’s why a new approach to land management is needed.
“The Wildlife Trusts are leading the way with their vision of ‘A
Living Landscape’, joining up vital habitats such as meadows, woodlands
and wetlands. Trusts are identifying wildlife-rich places and connecting
them together, providing room for wildlife to manoeuvre to shadier slopes,
higher or alternative habitat. We
can all help. Your garden can
play a vital part in helping to create wildlife corridors, through
thoughtful management.”
Birdfair is jointly organised by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife
Trust and the RSPB and has something for everyone, with hundreds of stands
offering the latest products from binoculars to books to bird food and
clothing to country crafts and much more.
Birdfair tickets cost £10 for adults and children go free.
After entry all entertainment is free, including lectures, quizzes
and games hosted by TV celebrities and workshops.
Famous visitors this year include Bill Oddie, Chris Packham, and
Simon King.
To
find out more about Vine House Farm, the conservation work that they carry
out, and how to order visit www.vinehousefarm.co.uk.
For further information please contact:
Anna Guthrie
senior
press officer
Tel:
01636 670075
Email:
aguthrie@wildlifetrusts.org
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