Page 5 - Natural World Winter 2017
P. 5
Avalon Marshes wins public vote SOMERSET WT
BEV LEWIS Comedian and nature lover Bill a trophy and an
Bailey caused a stir when he walked appearance on
The inspiration for the new beer was into the Avalon Marshes nature BBC1. The reserve
unavailable for comment centre – and told them they had is one of the finest
won the National Lottery Awards’ remaining lowland
Spirited support for Best Environment Project. wetlands in Britain. “I’m from
Wildlife Trusts Somerset, so preserving the local
The Somerset Wildlife Trust landscape is important to me,” said
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’s annual nature reserve beat o competition Bill. “The project does an incredible
beer festival in September premiered from 1,300 entries in the annual job of keeping this historic wetland
Malthouse Dormouse, a light, fruity public vote. The reward for the sta in tip-top shape.”
ale from Leamington Spa brewery. It and volunteers was a £5,000 prize,
was inspired by the re-introduction
of dormice this year in a Trust Sta and
woodland. Money raised will support volunteers
the Trust’s work. celebrate two
nice surprises
Not to be outdone, Herts and
Middlesex Trust receive £2 for every
bottle sold of Puddingstone
Distillery’s special edition Campfire
Gin. The gin uses flowers from the
invasive Himalayan balsam, removed
from the neighbouring reserve.
Cornwall chooses good seafood Rare black bees CHRIS GOMERSALL/2020VISION
back in Essex
More than 70 Cornish most sustainable to eat. “The
businesses, including the Eden support of these restaurants and
Project and Jamie Oliver’s fish sellers promotes demand for
restaurant, have joined Cornwall sustainably-caught Cornish fish,
Wildlife Trust’s Good Seafood making the future more secure
Guide. cornwallgoodseafood for fish stocks and our inshore
guide.org.uk shows people
what’s currently in season and fishermen,” says the Trust’s
Matt Slater.
TOBY ROXBURGH/2020VISION Cornwall’s Abberton’s black honey bee HQ. The
Good Trust hopes they will colonise the area
Seafood
Guide needs Essex Wildlife Trust is working to
to catch on bring back the black honey bee.
everywhere Once a native species, the bee was
almost completely wiped out 100
years ago. Now a colony is back
and buzzing at the Trust’s
Abberton Reservoir reserve.
Apis mellifera mellifera is one of
around 28 sub-species of the
western honey bee. The species
flies in cooler weather than the non-
native bees often imported to help
pollination, so can be better at
finding food.
WINTER 2017 NATURAL WORLD 5
