Press Release

Press Release Archive: Friday 01 April 2011

MPs make pledge at Wildlife Trust event in Westminster

Members of Parliament pledged to “value our natural heritage” this week after meeting local nature conservation organisation Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) at the House of Commons.

Members of Parliament pledged to “value our natural heritage” this week after meeting local nature conservation organisation Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) at the House of Commons. The event was held to highlight the value of funding nature and its recovery.  It showcased a number of Wildlife Trust projects funded by HLF around the UK including in the purchase and development of Willow Tree Fen nature reserve in south Lincolnshire and the South Humber Wildlife and People Project in north Lincolnshire.  Paul Learoyd, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust said:  "We warmly welcome the support that HLF has given to The Wildlife Trusts over 16 years and the support shown by parliamentarians.  With an uncertain economic future, we look forward to funding streams that protect and restore nature continuing.  "We are at a pivotal moment for nature which is vital to our lives and well-being.  The Government has committed to producing a Natural Environment White Paper in May.  We hope this will provide the right policy framework so that nature can thrive and recover.  We urge parliamentarians to ensure the Government delivers an ambitious and visionary Natural Environment White Paper in May." Carole Souter CBE, Chief Executive of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: "Over the past 16 years the Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded around £100million towards Wildlife Trust projects.  This forms part of our wider commitment of £390million to more than 3,000 projects which support nature conservation across the UK.  Our funding has made it possible to help people learn about, conserve and protect our incredible natural heritage.  "We are now consulting on the future of Lottery funding for heritage, asking people to tell us what they think our priorities should be, what we should continue to do, and what we should do differently.  Over the next few years the amount of money we will have available for heritage will increase to around £300million and we want to know how people think we should use it." Visit www.hlf.org.uk/consultation2011 by 26 April to register your views.

Notes to Editors

1. The event was held on 30 March 2011 at Portcullis House, Westminster. 
   
   
2. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and wild places throughout the historic county of Lincolnshire – from the Humber to the Wash. The Trust is Lincolnshire’s leading nature conservation charity with over 25,000 members and around 100 nature reserves. The Trust is a member of a nationwide network of 47 local trusts which work to protect wildlife - The Wildlife Trusts.
   www.lincstrust.org.uk
   
   
3. The Wildlife Trusts. There are 47 Wildlife Trusts across the whole of the UK, the Isle of Man and Alderney. We are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone.  With more than 800,000 members, we are the largest UK voluntary organisation dedicated to conserving the full range of the UK’s habitats and species, whether they be in the countryside, in cities or at sea. 150,000 of our members belong to our junior branch, Wildlife Watch.  We manage around 2,300 nature reserves covering more than 90,000 hectares; we stand up for wildlife; we inspire people about the natural world and we foster sustainable living.
   www.wildlifetrusts.org
   
   
4. The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) www.hlf.org.uk
   Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage.  HLF has supported more than 30,000 projects allocating £4.5billion across the UK. 
   Please visit www.hlf.org.uk/consultation2011 by 26 April to let us know your views. Consultation is to inform HLF’s strategy for 2013–2019.
   
   
5. Willow Tree Fen is a new nature reserve, purchased by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust in 2009. Formerly arable land growing beans and cereals with a number of low depressions that become waterlogged in wet periods, the fen will be restored over the next few years to a typical wet fenland landscape.
   The purchase and restoration of Willow Tree Fen has been made possible with financial support from Natural England, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership, Environment Agency and the members of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.  It is part of the wider South Lincolnshire Fenlands Partnership.
   There are opportunities to visit Willow Tree Fen nature reserve on an Easter Open Weekend with guided walks at 10am and 2pm on the Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 April 2011.
   Willow Tree Fen nature reserve is between Bourne and Spalding, south of the River Glen on the Tongue End to Pode Hole road. The entrance bridge is at grid ref TF 181 213.
   
   
6. The five year South Humber Bank Wildlife and People Project (SHWAP), supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, has brought the wildlife, built heritage and archaeological assets of the region together through education, recreation and the creation of new habitats. Better opportunities have been provided for the public to engage with their environment. The project partners are the Environment Agency, North Lincolnshire Council, English Heritage, English Nature and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. The Trust is a key partner and has led the SHWAP educational programme based at Far Ings National Nature Reserve. The SHWAP project area includes sites between Burton upon Stather on the western fringe of North Lincolnshire to North Killingholme in the east.

 

For further information please contact

Rachel Shaw, Public Relations Officer
Tel: 01507 526667   (ansaphone out of office hours)
Fax: 01507 525732
Email: Rachel Shaw

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
Banovallum House
Manor House Street
Horncastle
Lincolnshire LN9 5HF

Website: www.lincstrust.org.uk