Company gives backing to local wildlife haven

An award winning national property company has added its support to one of Exeter's most precious havens for wildlife. The company, Renaissance Villages, has generously donated £1,500 to leading local conservation charity Devon Wildlife Trust to help with the vital upkeep of its Old Sludge Beds nature reserve. The reserve occupies wildlife rich reed beds, woodland and ponds on the banks of the River Exe close to the city's Countess Weir Swing Bridge. Matt Boydell, Devon Wildlife Trust's Nature Reserve Manager, welcomed the news of backing from Renaissance Villages: 'Our 49 nature reserves are some of the most beautiful and important green spaces remaining for Devon's people and wildlife. Old Sludge Beds may not have the most picturesque name, but it is a vital place for some wonderful wildlife including otters, warblers, dragonflies and bats. And, because it is close to Exeter and next to the busy Exeter Canal bike path, the reserve is also very popular with visitors.' Matt continued: 'Keeping nature reserves in tip-top condition for people and wildlife takes up a great amount of time and money for our charity so help from Renaissance Villages is very welcome news. Their support will be used to manage this delicate wetland reserve, maintaining its water levels, repairing its well-trodden boardwalks and improving it as a great home for wildlife.' Renaissance Villages specialises in high quality, age-exclusive homes for discerning buyers set within new private village communities. The company's luxury development on Topsham Road in Exeter, Millbrook Village, is within walking distance of the Old Sludge Beds nature reserve. Commenting on the company's new relationship with Devon Wildlife Trust and its Exeter nature reserve, Renaissance Villages Managing Director, Iwan Jones, said: 'We are delighted to support Devon Wildlife Trust and contribute towards the conservation of the Old Sludge Beds. It's wonderful to have a nature reserve so close to Millbrook Village and we know the fascinating site will be of great interest to our residents.' Devon Wildlife Trust is delighted to welcome Renaissance Villages as a corporate supporter, joining the ranks of more than 40 Devon companies who are backing the charity. Iwan Jones commented: 'It is very important to Renaissance Villages that we build a strong relationship with the local community in Exeter, and we're really proud to be supporting Devon Wildlife Trust. We greatly admire the organisation's work, which is so vital both for the region's wildlife and its people.' Devon Wildlife Trust's Old Sludge Beds nature reserve is free to enter and open 365 days a year. 

New corporate and individual supporters make a great deal of difference to the charity's work and details are available from www.devonwildlifetrust.org

Devon Wildlife Trust's Old Sludge Beds nature reserve has received a significant boost from property company Renaissance Villages.' Photo copyright DWT (All Rights Reserved)

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Post by North Devon Coast & Country Chronicle.

Former chair of North Devon Biosphere takes up leading wildlife charity role

A north Devon man who has spent a lifetime in the cause of international environmental movements has joined the board of a leading local wildlife charity. Former chair of North Devon's UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Mike Moser, is taking up the role of trustee with the Devon Wildlife Trust. Mike was unanimously elected by supporters of the wildlife charity at its recent Annual General Meeting held in Plymouth. Mike's CV reads as a career spent devoted to conservation and includes spells at the British Trust for Ornithology, Director of Wetlands International and English Nature. Today he continues to work, mainly with the United Nations, supporting wetland, forest and coastal conservation projects in developing countries. For the past three years Mike has also overseen the ground-breaking conservation work done with local farming communities as chair of the Northern Devon Nature Improvement Area. Despite a busy professional life Mike still finds time to manage a small farm and woodlands at his home near Chulmleigh in north Devon. Now Mike is joining the trustee board which oversees the running of another leading conservation organisation: the Devon Wildlife Trust. Marking the announcement of his new role Mike said: "Devon is one of England's most beautiful counties, but that beauty belies serious problems of habitat fragmentation, degradation and continuing loss of wildlife. It could and should be much better! Wildlife will only thrive again when we have restored and joined up our fragmented habitats so that they can function properly. Devon Wildlife Trust is a champion for this landscape-scale conservation, and I aim to bring added-value to the organisation by drawing on my international, national and local experience. I'm delighted to be elected and look forward to helping to develop the charity's work for wildlife." Devon Wildlife Trust Chief Executive Harry Barton welcomed Mike's appointment: 'We're very pleased to welcome Mike. As one of our trustees he joins Devon Wildlife Trust at a very exciting time. He'll now be part of our development as we open the major new visitor centre Seaton Jurassic in East Devon, as we continue to expand our 49 nature reserves and as we campaign for better protection for Devon's wonderful marine wildlife. The challenges facing Devon's precious environment have never been more profound and the work of Devon Wildlife Trust has never been more urgent. I'm glad Mike will be with us to help!' Mike Moser's new role as a Devon Wildlife Trust trustee followed the retirement from the board of another north Devon wildlife champion, Ian Ferguson. Ian has become a familiar face at countless community events, campaigns and meetings over an astonishing 50 years of volunteering for the charity. 

  North Devon conservationist Mike Moser has joined the trustee board of Devon Wildlife Trust.

Photo copyright DWT (All rights reserved)