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  1.  

    There’s amazing beaver news from the National Trust!   And it’s a great example of how membership supports conservation.

    At the Holnicote Estate in Somerset, the Eurasian beavers Yogi and Grills were released in the enclosure back in January 2020.  The aim was to improve flood management and also support the health of rivers and streams.  And these beavers are really busy – restoring biodiversity loss, showing the flow of water AND managing the effects of climate change!

    Swim off here to see the video tour of the beaver enclosure!


    They've also been busy producing their first kit in 2021 and twins in the spring of 2022.  The three kits – Rashford, Russo and Toone – were named after England football stars, with the help of the public!

    And now, the National Trust has given us all the chance to join an interactive 360 degree video tour of the beaver enclosure they now have! 

    You can watch the beavers as they beaver away and go about their daily lives and it’s also a great opportunity to find out how the beavers are changing the landscape there. 

    You can explore the lodge, dams and pools that these eco-engineers have created, and watch footage of the beavers and their kits!

    The National Trust is going to add more footage to the tour in the future – it’s a very exciting project!

    Whilst the beavers are beavering away, the Holnicote team are beavering away as well.  They are looking to see how the beavers are changing the environment around them.   They are creating dams and deep pools of water which in turn has created homes for wildlife such as amphibians, bats, otters, kingfisher, dipper and waterfowl.

    This beaver is building a dam at Holnicote Estate in Somerset
    Image © National Trust/Nick Upton


    Go beavers! 
    Do have a look at the beaver cam – it really is exciting, but I also found it very peaceful and restful simply watching the beautiful scenes of nature!   And if you don’t see them the first time, take another look another time of day – you never know what you’ll spot!

    More dam news from those Beavers!

    The National Trust has a guide on beavers and you can find out lots more about there and what the Trust is doing to beaver away for beavers.

    Memberships supports the conservation work the National Trust is doing

    • Members help the National Trust protect over 780 miles of coastline;
    • Members help the Trust to protect and promote the outdoors in its care so that everyone can connect to nature, and members inspired the Trust to launch its well-known “50 things to do before you’re 11 and three quarters” campaign to get children outdoors.
    • Members help the Trust look after woodlands, both old ones and new ones
    • And members have helped support conservation efforts such as the beaver release in Somerset

    So what do members get?

    Give a membership to the National Trust and help support conservation at the same time!

    There are lots of benefits, including free access to over 500 places in the Trust’s care.  There’s free parking at most National Trust car parks for members, and you get the National Trust Handbook, which is packed full of useful information about the places you can visit.  You also get the National Trust Magazine three times a year – it’s full of inspiration, interviews and news, and there’s access to the Trust’s online Members’ Area, with lots of behind the scenes features and first-look previews!  Find out more and give a gift membership today!

  2.  

    Those lovely people at gift experience company Into the Blue have a range of experiences for all sorts of interests and they often have special offers.

    You could try your hand at cheese making in Essex, London or Buckinghamshire?
    You could try your hand at cheese making
    in Essex, London or Buckinghamshire

    These gift experiences include a cheese making experience, flight simulators, archery, chocolate making, wine tasting, even a blacksmith course, beer experiences, gin experiences - so lots to choose from.  If you fancied your hand at writing, then you could look at the online writing courses. 

    There are a number of flight simulator experiences on offer
    There are a number of flight simulator experiences on offer
    - Airbus 320, Messerschmitt vs Spitfire Combat,
    Boeing 737, and a fighter pilot simulator

    How about a two night break away?
    How about a two night break away?

    There are also a couple of escape breaks, if you feel like getting away from it all. 

    There's a Kids Superstar Singer Experience with opportunities around the country
    There's a Kids Superstar Singer Experience
    with opportunities around the country. 
    It's now £59.00 instead of £99.00! 

    Don't forget that Into the Blue also have a number of gourmet gifts and subscriptions to choose from, covering goodies such as coffee, gin, rum, sweets, brownies, wine and eating out.  These can be found here.

    Fly off to Into the Blue and go browsing!  

     

  3. I absolutely love the New Forest.  Based in the south of England,  it's such a beautiful place to visit.   I adore watching the New Forest ponies, cattle, deer and donkeys make their way around the villages and seeing all the wildlife in the wooded areas.  It's lovely to stop off at and tuck into a cream tea.  I remember well going on holiday there and driving through a little ford which was very exciting.  I highly recommend a visit, if you're thinking of a holiday.  Great place to go horse riding and dog walking, too.

    Visit the Friends of the New Forest here
    ©
    Friends of the New Forest


    So when I heard about the Friends of the New Forest, I just had to tell you about it.

    When I wrote this blog back in 2017, the Friends of the New Forest were 150 years old.   Since 1867, the association has been protecting, conserving  and enhancing the fauna, flora and  heritage of the New Forest. 

    Its vision of the New Forest is "a unique naturally beautiful yet living and changing place in which strong elements of tranquillity and wilderness are maintained despite the increasing pressures from the demands of local population, recreation and infrastructure."  You can find out more about it here

    And it carries on its work today, protecting the Forest.

    Its campaigns include

    • Commoning
    • Habitat conservation
    • Landscape
    • Planning and development
    • Recreation
    • Roads
    • Education and understanding

    If you become a member of the Friends of the New Forest and contribute to the long-term protection of the special character and qualities of the New Forest.  There are also events and campaigns you can get involved with.

    As a Friend of the New Forest you will receive:

    • Their magazine
    • Invitations to the AGM and other informative or social events giving you the opportunity to meet other members
    • Details of activities or campaigns in which you can take part
    • A copy of their Annual Report.

    Click here to visit the New Forest Association's website and find out more

  4.  

    Got an art lover in your life?  Well, how about a gift membership to the National Gallery with its 700 years of painting!  It has some amazing masterpieces, with over 2,600 paintings to immerse yourself in.  Take a look at the must-sees here!

    And a gift membership is a great way to support the National Gallery, too!

     Give a Gift Membership to the National Gallery

    Image © National Gallery

    Benefits to the National Gallery Gift Membership scheme include:

    Members get access to all the Gallery has to offer: 

    • Unlimited free entry to all our exhibitions
    • Priority booking for events and exhibitions
    • A bespoke programme of online events
    • Invitations to preview days
    • 10% discount in the shops and cafes
    • On-demand films and exhibition tours
    • Use of the cloakroom for free
    • Flexibility to reschedule exhibition tickets

    And of course the knowledge you're supporting the National Gallery and so supporting free art for everyone! 

    Memberships start at £78.00


    See what's on now here!

     

    Give  a gift membership here!

    *Please note that discounts are provided by the National Gallery Global Ltd and can be removed at any time.