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)

Give a gift to the animal lover in your life,
as well as to the animals at Chester Zoo and worldwide

Like many zoos in the United Kingdom and indeed worldwide, Chester Zoo has been hit very hard by the coronavirus.  Visitor numbers played an essential role in supproting the zoo and also its conservation projects around the world.

If you know of someone who loves Chester Zoo, and/or who enjoyed the programme The Secret Life of the Zoo, you could give a membership to the zoo. 

You could also consider adopting an animal - there's a Bronze, Silver and Gold levels to choose from plus a huge range of animals. 

We need your help and support!   

Or you could make a donation on behalf of your loved ones.

The coronavirus has put a stop to a crucial source of income for the zoo.   Even though it has opened up, it won't have the numbers coming through to make up for lost income.   The animals need feeding and veterinary care.   Conservation projects need support.

Please visit Chester Zoo's website and look what you can do to give your support.  Taking out a membership or giving a membership is one way. 

Donating through the zoo's Just Giving page is another. 

Images copyright to Chester Zoo from their Just Giving page 

Calling all cat lovers!

Did you know that national cat charity Cats Protection have a membership scheme?  Well, they do, and you can give a membership to someone who loves cats and help the charity care for all the cats in their care, and reach out to educate the public in all matters cat!

Members receive The Cat magazine four times a year. 
I love receiving mine through the post!

Image © Cats Protection

Amongst other benefits, members receive the excellent magazine The Cat four times a year.  I'm a member of Cats Protection (having been a volunteer for them before they moved) and my husband was always wondering if I was going to bring home a lot of friends for our cat, Trouble.  To do such a think wouldn't have gone down well with husband or cat, so I had to content myself with lots of cuddles there!  Ours was not into cuddles, really - he loved being stroked but not cuddled.  

I did grow cat nip in the garden, not just because  our cat Trouble liked it but because I would take some to the cats who were at the re-homing centre.  They loved it - cats do adore cat nip, they love the smell.

The Cat magazine is great;  it's full of news, information, advice and tips and - of course - stunning photos of cats of all ages.   It's also good to know that there are lots of fellow cat lovers doing what they can to help cats up and down the country.

Make a Difference to cats and give a cat lover a membership!
Image © Cats Protection

By the way, Cats Protection have launched an online course which is free to help you discover more about cats.   On Feline Focus, (you need to scroll down the page), there's an Understanding Cats Needs online course for people of all ages, 11+.  There's also careers information for anyone wanting to work with cats.

Visit Cats Protection website here.

Miaow for now!

I wanted to tell you about the John Muir Trust, as they have a gift membership scheme. 

The conservation charity is dedicated to the experience, protection and repair of wild places.

It owns and cares for some of the finest wild places in Scotland including the summit of Ben Nevis, part of the Cuillin on Skye, and it recently took on the land management of Glenridding Common in the Lake District in England.

Equally, you may prefer to adopt an acre and protect wild mountain landscapes by adopting an acre on four iconic mountains – Ben Nevis, Schiehallion, Blà Bheinn on Sky or Ladhar Bheinn in Knoydart.

The John Muir Trusts works to:

1. To protect wild land, speaking out when it comes under threat and working to influence the policies which affect it.  In 2014, its campaigning work meant the Scottish Government introduced better wild land protection measures – and that meant adopting Wild Land Areas into planning policy
   
   
2. To manage land, rewilding habitats, managing deer and monitoring biodiversity.  It has to manage deer so that nature can support deer populations.  In 25 years, the Trust has achieved a ten fold increase in native tree cover on its land on Knoydart – and that will encourage wildlife to come back and improve biodiversity
   
   
3. To connect people and nature – it helps thousands of people get out into nature every year through the John Muir Award – and many of them wouldn’t have the chance, otherwise

One way to support this work is by becoming a member and joining 11,000 like-minded people who also care about the natural world.  Or give a gift membership! 

A gift membership gives the recipient

• A welcome pack with recent publications, a car sticker and bookmark
• Regular mailings during the year, with 2 copies of the Journal and of Members’ News and an Annual Report, PLUS invites to work parties and events!
• Exclusive discounts

• Individual
• Joint/Family
• Individual Concession (that’s for full-time students, senior citizens, and unwaged)
• Joint/Family Concession (for full-time students, senior citizens and unwaged)
• Group

 You can pay by direct debit monthly or a one off, and there’s a lifetime membership as well. 

 Find out more and help the John Muir Trust protect wild places today!