I've always liked cheese, and am very pleased to discover that Virgin Experience Days have introduced a new British Cheese Subscription Box from Letterbox Cheese.

It's a two month membership and you can tuck into a fine cheese and biscuit selection.  Each box has four different cheeses, a homemade relish, specially made biscuits and more cheese delights.  I'm starting to feel hungry!

You can expect a smooth Double Gloucester with Chives and Onion, nutty Sparkenhoe Red Leicester, or a flavoursome mature Ogden truckle.  All for £60.00.

Dive over to Virgin Exprience Days and tuck in!

Many species have thrived during lockdown – and there’s great news from the National Trust about one of them!

Peregrine falcons have thrived during lockdown.

Peregrine falcons at Corfe Castle in Dorset have thrived during lockdown!

The National Trust reports that peregrine falcon chicks have hatched in the ruins of a 12^th century castle in Dorset in the south of England AND across the rugged moors of the Peak District!

The National Trust think the success of these birds is most probably down to the peaceful environment lockdown created.   There are 11 peregrine falcon chicks ready to fledge across four acres of land that the Trust cares for.   Three of these were at Corfe Castle in Dorset and the other eight were found at three different sites in the Peak District’s High Peak Moors!

The breeding peregrines in Dorset had built a nest 70 feet up on the castle’s keep walls – the first time a pair of the raptors had nested there since the 1980s.  The castle was quiet, thanks to lockdown, so the birds had the peace and quiet they needed to make a nest and lay their eggs.  By opening time, the eggs had hatched – so the parents were not likely to abandon their nest. The parents encourage their offspring into the big wide world, by offering them food!

When this little chick grows up, it will be able to fly at about 200 miles an hour...
Find out more

And there are six successful breeding pairs in the National Park moors this year – double the average since the Bird of Prey Initiative started to report in 2012.  The goal is to encourage at least 17 breeding pairs and that will hopefully mean lots of young peregrine falcons!

When these peregrine falcons grow up, they will be the fastest animals in the world.  Stooping adults hunting prey can reach incredible speeds of 200 miles an hour.  Their wingspan reaches 1.2 metres.  That’s impressive.

The National Trust is working in partnership with the British Trust for Ornithology, Natural England and volunteers from the Peak District Raptor Monitoring Group.  Many of the birds in the Peak District have been ringed so that it’s possible to monitor their progress.

It is really important that visitors keep their distance because if the chick’s parents are disturbed, the adult birds may not come back to feed their offspring who will die.

The ultimate vision is for the moors to be full of wildlife and the Trust is working with tenants and partners to make this happen.

Fly away to the National Trust here to find out more - and to see some absolutely stunning photos of the peregrine falcons!.

Give a gift membership and help the National Trust protect wildlife such as the peregrine falcon, the puffin, beavers, otters, and more!

Members enjoy 

• Free entry (on pre-booking) to some of the National Trust's gardens and parklands as they reopen
• Free parking at most of their coast and countryside car parks (pre-booking required for a small number of car parks) as they reopen
• Members' Handbook, full of information about their places
• National Trust Magazine three times a year, packed with inspiration, interviews and news

Plus, when all of their places and car parks reopen:

• Free entry to over 500 special places, including their houses
• Free parking at most National Trust car parks

You will have the knowledge that your gift is helping the National Trust to protect some amazing wildlife and places for future generations!

National Marine Week takes place from Saturday 25th July to 9th August and as such it's an opportunity to celebrate marine life and do what we can to protect it.

The "week" (it's actually longer than that) is organised by the Wildlife Trusts.  There are plenty of things to do and see or watch, however far away you are from the coast - and it's a wonderful chance to learn more about our marine life.

It's also a chance to spread the word that the Wildlife Trust have a gift membership - so if you are looking for a membership idea for a nature lover or someone who loves sea life and the natural world, this could be a great one to take a look at.

One of the great things about the Wildlife Trust is that there are 46 Wildlife Trusts around the UK (including Alderney Wildlife Trust which has some amazing You Tube videos of puffins and the wildlife there).  And most of them have membership schemes so actually you could look for a Wildlife Trust that's close to your loved on.

So what do the Wildlife Trusts do for the sea?

• Campaign for Marine Protected Areas - they campaign for parts of the seabed and the sea to be protected from damaging activities
• They work for balanced fishing policies that help to protect our marine environment and ensure a sustainable fishing industry
• They run surveys along the coast and under the sea to gather information on wildlife and marine habitats
• They help ensure that developments at sea avoid the most important parts of the sea for wildlife
• The run events around the coast such as talks, rockpool rambles and underwataer snorkel safaris to inspire people about the sea

The Trust looks after over 100,000 hectares of land for wildlife - woods, meadows, hils and beachers. They maintain nature reserves and provide wild volunteering opportunities for people of all ages.  And they run marine conservation projects to promote healthy seas and marine wildlife.

Give a Gift Membership to the Wildlife Trust.

(Image copyright Wildlife Trusts)

The National Trust for Scotland cares for some amazing places in Scotland and some wonderful wildlife, too.

They look after the habitats of over a million seabirds, and birds nesting in the woodlands and hills.  

And this week, they've launched a series of Spotter Guides - and the first one focuses on wildlife, most specifically, birds.  

As well as enjoying their Spotter Guides, you can share places and sights with the National Trust for Scotland on social using #ForTheLoveOfScotland

 Fly away to the Spotter Guide from the National Trust for Scotland

There's also one for families