Shoppers vote for local charities to get bags of help

23 Feb 2016 | No. 2016-10

Three local charities are to benefit from the 5p charge on carrier bags, but shoppers are to decide who gets what.

[[{"fid":"337820","view_mode":"media_200_wide","attributes":{"alt":"Nunnery Lakes Nature Reserve by Chris Gregory","title":"Nunnery Lakes Nature Reserve by Chris Gregory/BTO","height":"1","width":"200","class":"media-element file-media-200-wide"},"fields":{"format":"media_200_wide","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Nunnery Lakes Nature Reserve by Chris Gregory","field_taxonomy_photographer[und]":"Chris Gregory","field_file_image_caption_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Nunnery Lakes Nature Reserve by Chris Gregory/BTO","field_taxonomy_website_areas[und][]":"138"},"type":"media"}]]

The Thetford based British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and its Nunnery Lakes Nature Reserve, plus two other regional contenders are all in with a shout for the highest level of funding.

The public will vote, by way of tokens when they shop, in Thetford Tesco superstore and at the Tesco Express in Norwich Road, the superstore in Bury St Edmunds and the Express stores at Cornhill in the town centre, at Lawson Place in Morton Hall, at the Express store in Horringer and at the Brandon Tesco Metro. The charity with the highest number of votes will receive £12,000, whilst the other two will receive £10,000 and £8,000 dependent on their share of the vote.

Bonita Johnston, of the BTO, said, “This is a great initiative that will help all the charities involved and enable the Nunnery Lakes Discovery Trail to make the nature reserve a better place for everyone to enjoy.”

She added, “The Nunnery Lakes Reserve is an exceptional place for nature, just a 10-15 minute walk from Thetford town centre. The project will provide map signs and interpretation panels for visitors to follow around the lakes if placed 3rd in the vote, plus a guide booklet with more detailed information if placed 2nd and equipment for learning events if placed 1st, all to help more local communities discover the amazing Breckland wildlife on their doorstep, including birds, otter, deer, dragonflies and butterflies.”

Tesco has teamed up with Groundwork to launch its 'Bags of Help' initiative in hundreds of regions across England and Wales. The scheme will see three community groups and projects in each of these regions awarded grants of £12,000, £10,000 and £8,000 – all raised from the 5p bag charge.

Notes for Editors

1. The BTO is the UK's leading bird research charity. A growing membership and up to 60,000 volunteer birdwatchers contribute to the BTO's surveys, collecting information that underpins conservation action in the UK. The BTO maintains a staff of 100 at its offices in Thetford, Stirling, Bangor (Wales) and Bangor (Northern Ireland), who analyse and publicise the results of surveys and projects. The BTO's work is funded by BTO supporters, government, trusts, industry and conservation organisations.www.bto.org

Contact Details

Bonita Johnston
(BTO Corporate & Trust Fundraiser)

Office: 01842 750050
(9am to 5.30pm)
Email: bonita.johnston [at] bto.org

Paul Stancliffe
(BTO Media Manager)

Office: 01842 750050
(9am to 5.30pm)
Mobile: 07585 440910 (anytime)
Email: press [at] bto.org

Images are available for use alongside this News Release.
Please contact images [at] bto.org quoting reference 2016-10

The BTO has an ISDN line available for radio interviews.
Please contact us to book an interview
Office: 01842 750050


Related content