Member Article

Four major companies giving big

Four major companies in the region are supporting Northumberland Wildlife Trust during this year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge, with all money raised going towards its Woodlands for Wildlife Project .

Potts Printers Ltd, Northumbrian Water Ltd, Karpet Mills and A-one+ have all made financial pledges to the wildlife charity which has been selected to participate in The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2013, a massive annual on-line appeal funded by the Reed Foundation, the charity arm of Reed Specialist Recruitment Services.

Like all charities, Northumberland Wildlife Trust has been affected by the cuts in funding for wildlife conservation work which comes at a time when wildlife is facing more challenges to its future than ever before, however, it feels that is woodland conservation work just can’t wait.

Ancient woodland now accounts for just 1% of Northumberland’s total land area and nearly two-thirds of this is in a poor state, devastated by human activities and threated further by foreign diseases. As a result many high profile species, including the endangered dormouse and red squirrel, as well as a wide range of woodland bird and butterflies, are in serious decline due to loss of habitat.

If the Trust can raise £10,000 online on three specific days in December, it could then receive a further £10,000 in match funding from a combination of ‘Charity Champion Funds’ (foundations/trusts/philanthropists) and pledges from its corporate supporters. Four of its corporate members: A-one+, Karpet Mills, Northumbrian Water and Potts Printers Ltd have made financial pledges.

The three donation days are: Thursday 5th, Friday 6th and Saturday 7th December and donations can be made via the Big Give website:

new.thebiggive.org.uk/project/woodandsforwildlife

The website will open at 10.00am each day and there is only a certain amount of money allocated for each of the three days, so get in early as the match funds go quickly!

Anybody who doesn’t have access to a computer can call into Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Gosforth Headquarters at

St Nicholas Park, Gosforth, Newcastle between: 10am - 3pm, Thursday 5th and Friday 6th December.

Conrad Dickinson, Hexham based managing director of Karpet Mills and intrepid polar explorer has pledged his support to the wildlife charity’s participation in the Big Give.

As a born and bred Northumbrian who grew up in the countryside around the Roman Wall, he has derived countless years of pleasure from the region’s unique natural heritage, he said: “During my Arctic and Antarctic expeditions, I have seen the effect of climate change on our environment and realise we must all get more involved to preserve and protect our fragile surroundings.

“We are making great steps forward, and I have enjoyed sightings of otters, barn owls and red kites. By contrast, I am saddened when I stroll along the River Tipalt near Haltwhistle, that I no longer see the scores of water voles which used to inhabit the river bank. It is only by embracing and involving as many people as possible that we can change our natural beauty in this changing world. Please support the Trust’s Big Give Campaign - no amount is too small.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sue Bishop .