Diamond Isle is one of Gift to Nature’s most successful members, so far Paul has raised £1,349.11 by asking for voluntary donations from the visitors who watch his and Kitty’s captivating glass blowing demonstrations.

Paul supports the Troll Trail and Merstone Station Meadow, his donations have helped pay for meadow management, nesting boxes for the threatened Grey Wagtail replacing Elms lost to Dutch Elm Disease. There are also installations for people too, picnic benches and intriguing art all along the Troll Trail amuse and inform people as they travel. For more on the Troll Trail click here

Visit Paul’s website for a taster of what he can create here

Goodleaf Tree Climbing’s launch of their Appley climbing season (every Sunday during July and August 11am -  4pm) saw adults and kids having fun scaling the heights and joining in the Gift to Nature bug-hunting walk led by Ian Boyd.

Ian was also earlier  seen up a tree waving a net around – it’s ok though, he wasn’t waving for help, but looking for bugs only to be found in the tree canopy!

A big Thank You to Paul and Abi of Goodleaf for supporting Gift to Nature!

If you’re at the festival, pop in to relax, we’re open from 11-6 Sat and Sun.  You can also pick up some info on bees, make a donation and maybe even bag a freebie or two.  You can also take your photo on our specially constructed “A-BEE Road” Zebra crossing – see how closely you can replicate the classic album cover!

If you want to support our bee conservation work on the Island, why not buy one of the exclusive Let it Bee T-shirts, available from all festival merchandise stands.  Profits from the sales will help us plant and manage wildflowers and create other habitats for bees.  You can also donate directly at The Hive, by texting the word NATURE to 84424 to donate £1.50 from your mobile balance or securely online at The Big Give website.

You can keep up to date with goings on via Facebook and Twitter throughout the weekend, and we’ll be posting images to Flickr as and when we can – some from Friday are there now.

Richard Quigley owns and runs 2 fish and chip shops – Corries Cabin in Shooters Hill, Cowes and Corries Cabin in Oakfield High Street, Ryde.  We asked him recently about his involvement as a Gift to Nature Business fundraising member;
“For over 18 months Corries Cabin has been a member of Gift to Nature. Our involvement started following a local press report about what they did.  As we own businesses that rely on the local community, it made perfect sense to support them.  One of the fundraising events we have in the shops is a week where 50p from every meal goes to a selected charity.  In 2009 Gift to Nature was one of them.  I also perform stand-up comedy so was more than happy to perform and compere the recent Twestival in aid of Gift to Nature.  We all need to do at least a little bit to protect the fantastic environment we have on the Isle of Wight and Gift to Nature is a good way of doing this.”

Over in Newchurch, David Hughes, who runs Rosemary Cottage B&B has recently put up 3 Squirrel Feeders in the B&B’s garden and diligently keeps these fully stocked with hazelnuts.  And David’s efforts have paid off, with squirrel visitors to all the feeders on a daily basis!  David has been poised waiting to snap a squirrel in nut-munching mode, but as soon as he reaches for a camera they’re gone!  But as soon as one is available we’ll post it up ……..in the meantime here’s one we prepared earlier.

Join us for a fantastic quest along the Troll Trail tomorrow. Answer the questions as you go, pop into Birchmore Pond to spot the dragonflies. Take it at your own pace, pick up your question sheets from me (Sam) at Merstone Station between 2.00 and 2.30 then head off along the trail answering the clues, some are easy, some are much harder. Submit your answers by email and those with the most correct will win a years membership of Friends of Nature.

The Troll Trail Quest is one of the Isle of Wight Cycling Festival events, for more check out their website www.sunseaandcycling.com

Photo Courtesy of Mark Thirlwall

The first ever Isle of Wight Twestival voted to support Gift to Nature with a comedy and cocktails night. Check out the iowtwestival website for photos of the night and your chance to buy any of the images – all proceeds to Gift to Nature. Gift to Nature would like to say a huge thank to all those that made the night possible, this includes the whole iowtwestival team who generously gave their time and skills for months leading up to the event. We would also like to thank all of the musicians, comedians and DJs who performed for free. Also the Black Sheep bar who not only provided the venue for free but also the most excellent complimentary cocktails and tasty (yet ever so slight medicine like) blue shots. Thanks to Island printers who printed the tickets and posters for free. We also send out a huge thanks  to all of those generous businesses and individuals who provided raffle prizes particularly Son of Leek Rabbit who has found a new home where he will be well cared for. And finally thanks to all of those who bought tickets and took part in the auction, you made the night an fantastic success.