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.

January Sunday 24      10.30am
It’s free and it’s fun, you bring spades and buckets, we’ll supply the carrots, coal and hot chocolate. Visit http://owfhow.xrt.me/ to see fab pictures of past events.
Meet at Small Hope Beach Shanklin
Leader Island 2000 Tel 298098

Ventnor wild food walk

February Sunday 7       1 – 4pm
Explore Ventnor’s land and seascapes and find out about edible and useful plants. Circular walk of about 5 miles. Booking essential.
Leader Rowan Adams Tel 298098
Meet Ventnor Botanic Garden reference library GR 547 768
Cost Donation to Friends of Ventnor Botanic Garden

Celebration: The origin of the Origin

February Friday 12       1 – 4pm
Walk between the hotel and the villa where Charles Darwin (born 201 years ago today) wrote the first chapter of the Origin of Species. There-and-back-again walk of about 5 miles
Booking advised
Leader Rowan Adams Tel 298098
Meet outside the seaside entrance to the Ocean Hotel, Esplanade, Sandown GR 600 841
Cost Donations welcome

Appley birdwatch

February Sunday 28      10.30am
On this bird walk, we’ll look for grebes, divers and gulls before exploring Appley Park for winter thrushes and finches.
Leader Island 2000 Tel 298098
Meet Ryde seafront behind the Waterside pool
Cost £2 donation to Gift to Nature

Gift to Nature Spring Walk – Members Only

March Sunday 28        10.30am
Guided Walk down through Alverstone Marshes and back along the cycleway – woodlands and wetlands full of flowers, bugs and birds
Meet in Newchurch parish Car Park (by the school)

Ventnor wild food walk

March Sunday 7        1 – 4pm
Explore Ventnor’s land and seascapes and find out about edible and useful plants, circular walk of about 5 miles
Booking essential
Leader Rowan Adams Tel 298098
Meet Ventnor Botanic Garden reference library GR 547 768
Cost Donation to Gift to Nature

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!