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

Heather Cooper kindly sent in these photos of the Painted Lady and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies she saw last summer.  Remember the 2009 ‘invasion’ of Britain by millions of Painted Lady butterflies from North Africa?  Who knows what the wildlife highlight of 2010 will be ……..?

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.

Grange Farm has donated a weekend family camping pass for the Twestival Comedy and Cocktails night on the 12th of September, all proceeds go to Gift to Nature. To find out more and buy tickets check out the Isle of Wight Twestival website

The Really Green Holiday Company ask their visitors to make a contribution to Gift to Nature for every basket of logs or bag of charcol used during their holiday.  These are provided at no charge to guests, so we hope if you visit you will be as generous as your hosts!