Gift Membership & Subscription News

 

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  1. So did you see Big Cats About the House on BBC2 on Thursday night? 

    The series is running three programmes featuring big cat expert Giles Clark.   He is aiming to turn the Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent into a global centre of big cat expertise.

    Last night we saw the utterly adorable black jaguar cub Maya (who you can adopt for £75) whom Giles is hand-rearing around the clock after she's been neglected by her mother.  

    There are 50 big cats at the sanctuary, and as well as giving us an insight into the animals there, it focuses on big cat conservation and the issues affecting these majestic animals in the wild.

    The great news is that you can give a gift membership to the Big Cat Sanctuary and help big cat conservation, welfare and breeding.   Members receive a quarterly newsletter, an exclusive pin badge and priority booking for events.

    But surely the most important thing you receive is the knowledge you're helping big cats and making a difference towards their conservation.

    Visit the Big Cat Sanctuary's website here

     

  2. I've been glued to the television every Sunday night recently watching Sir David Attenborough's incredible series, Blue Planet II.

    For me, it's television at its best.  The BBC's Natural History Unit is superb - with stunning photography and footage.  The patience and expertise of the crew is breathtaking. 

    The last programme focused on Coasts and amost the places the programme visited, the Galapagos Islands was one of those featured.  The way the sea lions chased and herded the tuna inshore was something to be seen.  And the islands are beautiful.  

    The programme's website has information about ways in which we can all get involved in helping our oceans.   

    If you've got a loved one who is very interested in the Galapagos Islands, you could give them a Gift Membership to the Galapagos Conservation Trust.

    It's the only UK registered charity to focus exclusively on the conservation and sustainability of the Galapagos Archipelago.  It was launched in 1995 and it's supported an array of projects in Galapagos.

    The charity raises funds and awareness in the UK, and so can support conservation projects and therefore help with the overall management of this unique ecosystem.  You can find out more about its mission here.

    You can support the work of the Trust by giving a Gift Membership.

    Benefits of a gift membership are the same as for a regular membership and include a subscription to Galapagos Matters, invitations to events and an exclusive GCT pin badge.

    Click here to visit the Galapagos Conservation Trust to find out more about Gift Memberships

     

     

  3. The Caledonian Forest is a really important forest ecosystem.  It provides homes for wildlife but it's very fragmeted and consists entirely of old trees in some places.  So Trees for Life is working to expand and link these pinewoods.  It uses three strategies:

    • Natural Regeneration
    • Planting native trees
    • Removing non-native trees

    Trees for Life's mission is to restore the Caledonian Forest and its species of flora and fauna.   It enagages volunteers to do this, and so aims to provide an educational experience that will promote the work of restoration to wider audiences.  It hopes that this will inspire other projects around the world.

    The Caledonian Forest once covered a large part of the Scottish Highlands but deforestation has taken place over many years as trees were cut for fuel and timber and to convert land for agriculture. 

    Their membership scheme plays a key role in helping to save the wild Caledonian Forest and the wildlife there.  Regular membership donations enable the charity to plan ahead.  You can join for as little as £3 a month, but the more you give, the more you'll help the forest!  There are a number of different membership schemes to choose from.  

     

    Click here to go to Trees for Life to find out more.

     

     

  4. For anyone who loves the water, a gift membership you could give them with a bit of a difference  is one for the Canal and River Trust.

    The Trust protects over 2,000 miles of waterways in England and Wales.   Many of these are over 200 years old, so the Trust protects our heritage, but looks forward to the future as well.

    It's also responsible for a massive network of bridges, embankments, towpaths, aqueducts, docks and reservoirs.  These places are havens for wildlife and people.

    I have fond memories of a couple of barge holidays on canals.  They were great fun and a fantastic way to see the countryside.  When we felt like it, we got off and walked alongside the boat.  Doing a barge holiday is a great way for families to do something together, to discover new places, and try out a new activity. 

    Our barge holiday was actually in the year of the 1976 drought, so there wasn't a lot of water in the canals we were on.  Every time the boat moved off centre, it ran aground.  That provided scope for a lot of laughter and frustration, and yes, of course, arguing, but we still laugh as we look back on it and remember the holiday with tremendous fondness.

    Walking alongside a canal or river is a wonderful way to enjoy water, see some amazing wildlife, stretch our legs and get some gentle exercise, and have a lovely day out.  There are many places you can visit - click here to take a look!

    So a gift membership could be a great way both to help the Canal and River Trust continue their work to look after our canal and river network, and also to give your loved one some great days out!  Their membership programme falls under the Become a Friend title.   Find what the benefits are here