WWT Arundel makes the natural world accessible to all

Finding a day out that accommodates all the  family’s needs doesn’t have to be a nightmare -  what if we told you there was a way to combine close-up natural encounters with gentle paths, wheelchair access, mother and baby facilities, rest and shade stops and beautiful views?

Well look no further.

WWT Arundel Wetland Centre is an easy, safe place to enjoy the wonders of wetland wildlife. Adults and children can have nose-to-beak encounters with some of the world’s most rare birds, surrounded by stunning scenery. And it’s not just birds – WWT Arundel is famous for its water voles, too!

Spending time near or on water is an essential day-out experience and makes for unforgettable memories – you can adventure on it, gaze at it and marvel at the myriad forms of wildlife that cluster round it – water is never boring!

There is always something to see and do at a WWT Arundel Wetland Centre, 364 days of the year and you’ll find getting about and joining in is easy for everyone. We offer a variety of different experiences – you can choose as much or as little activity as you want. Fully accessible experiences range from Wetland Discover Boat Safari, pond dipping stations and bird hides that guaranteed close-up wildlife encounters. Throughout the year, WWT Arundel Wetland Centre has a programme of indoor and outdoor events which are perfect for nature lovers.

While we can’t guarantee the weather, you’re never far from shelter at WWT Arundel. There is ample free parking, comfortable hides, easy buggy and wheelchair friendly pathways, wheelchairs and walkers available to use (donations welcome), fully stocked cafes (with moveable seating) , gift shops and disabled and parent & baby facilities. Great facilities mean all your needs are catered for, alongside the wild and wonderful experience of being able to envelop yourself in the natural beauty of the wetland environment.

Entry to WWT Arundel  starts at £11.50 per adult, or £30.90 for a family (essential helpers are admitted free of charge and assistance dogs are welcome), which contributes to WWTs vital conservation work in England and all around the world – so by having a great time at our centres, you’re also supporting conservation.

For a full list of specific centre facilities and directions, go to http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit/arundel

Nostalgic Tufty artwork on sale to the general public for the first time in 60 years

Colourful artwork featuring retired road safety squirrel Tufty Fluffytail, who is celebrating his 60^th birthday this year, are now available to own as a print, postcard, greetings card, mug and fridge magnet.

It is the first time that vintage artwork featuring the red squirrel with his signature blue and yellow clothing has been released to the public for sale at www.rospaprints.com.

The 12 Tufty images, which are mainly from the 1960s, feature the squirrel and many of his companions, including Policeman Badger and Willy Weasel, in a variety of road safety scenarios. The creatures, which were created by the late Elsie Mills MBE in 1953 to help communicate simple safety messages to children, are also portrayed on the beach and at a bonfire party, in recognition of how Tufty branched out into other aspects of safety.

In addition to the Tufty artwork, 10 iconic safety posters dating from the 1950s-1970s, have also been released. They cover a variety of safety topics including cycle safety, with a 1967 message to cyclists not to become trapped by turning traffic. For pedestrians, there is a 1970 appeal to stop, look around and listen before crossing. A 1965 poster urges children to always do their kerb drill, while a 1964 winter safety poster has the message: “Ice and snow, mind how you go.”

Among the artists behind the artwork are Gus and Leonard Cusden.

The newly released items come from a long-forgotten collection of more than 700 historical safety posters and Tufty artwork, which RoSPA staff found while clearing out an old warehouse in 2011. The entire RoSPA Collection - as the archive has become known - features items dating from the 1930s to the 1970s.

Forty images went on public display and were released for sale last year, with the new release of images taking the total number available from www.rospaprints.com to 62.

All of the images are available to purchase in a variety of forms, from prints and canvases to mugs, fridge magnets, greetings cards and postcards. Visitors to the print-on-demand website can preview their chosen items and add messages inside greetings cards.

Tom Mullarkey, RoSPA chief executive, said: “When we first discovered our forgotten archive, we were astonished at the wide variety of styles used by the different artists and the high calibre of their work. We also saw that their messages remained valid, despite the passing of time.

“We are immensely proud of this aspect of our charity’s history, with artistic talent promoted over many decades and a continuous effort to improve the quality of everyday life.

“We are delighted to make some of our images, particularly those of Tufty, available to the public and we hope people will enjoy them and be inspired by them, as we are. To all those with an interest in or working in the field of accident prevention, we hope the posters provide a reminder that you are part of something that has a tremendous legacy and that this will encourage you to press on to save lives and reduce injuries both now and in the future.”

Visit www.rospaprints.com to see the full collection of artwork available to the public.

Tufty had a long and varied career in road safety. In 1961, the Tufty Club was set up as a nationwide network of local groups through which millions of children learned about road safety. At its peak, there were 24,500 registered Tufty Clubs. Tufty’s image was changed to keep up with the times in 1979 and again in 1993. Then in 2007, he made a guest appearance in the cult BBC series Life on Mars.  

Tufty has his own web page - www.tuftyclub.org.uk - and still receives emails from former Tufty Club members. Although Tufty is now retired, RoSPA remains active in tackling the principal cause of death among children - accidents - through its work on the road, in the home, at leisure and at school. See www.rospa.com for more details.  

RoSPA still produces a range of Tufty educational materials for use by children’s groups, teachers and road safety professionals, available at www.rospashop.com.

TESCO TO RECOGNISE MUMS WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Tesco are asking the public to nominate mums for their Mum of the Year Awards 2014.

The family-friendly supermarket is looking for mums who make a difference in their community and to other people by their work, their passion and by just being a great mum.

The public are asked to send in details of mums who raise money for charity, help in the local area, support their families in difficult times and generally give back to others.

Speaking in her role as Celebrity Ambassador, Denise van Outen said, ”Mums are so important and are our country’s true unsung heroes. There are so many mums across the UK who are inspirational, courageous and selfless and most have no idea how special they are.” 

Winners of the 2013 award included:

Margaret Aspinall from Liverpool was Campaigning Mum of the Year. Margaret lost her son in the Hillsborough tragedy and has spent the last twenty four years campaigning for the truth as part of the Hillsborough Families Support Group.

Anna Kennedy from Uxbridge was the Achieving Mum of the Year. She remortgaged her house to set up a school for autistic children after her two autistic sons were turned away from mainstream and specialist education.

Ann Maxwell from Midlothian was the Charitable Mum of the Year. Ann set up a children’s epilepsy charity after her middle son was diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy.  She has raised over £7 million despite suffering from cancer.

Mireille Williams from Bristol was the Community Mum of the Year. Mireille saved her son’s preschool from closure by rallying her local community and turning the school into a viable charitable business, saving seven jobs along the way.

Kate Hardcastle from Huddersfield was the Enterprising Mum of the Year. She created a community group to help lesser-known charities raise awareness and staff in her own company are paid to volunteer one day a week.

Claire Lomas from Melton Mowbray was the Courageous Mum of the Year.  Claire, despite being paralysed from the chest down after a riding accident, spent 16 days walking the London Marathon in a robotic suit and raised over £200,000 for spinal injury charities.

And Melanie C, the Celebrity Mum of the Year 2013, who has global fame and girl power but still finds time to support a host of charities, said "I was so honoured to be awarded Tesco Celebrity Mum of the Year this year, and so incredibly humbled to meet the other amazing mums. It's was a wonderful afternoon and so inspiring to hear everybody's stories. All of us winners have stayed in touch and continued to support each other and our causes. If you know a super special mum who needs to be recognised for the fantastic things she does then nominate her today."

The mums attended a glitzy, star-studded luncheon event at London’s iconic hotel, The Savoy, as part of a three-day trip that also involved quality time with David Cameron at 10 Downing Street.

Nominations for the 2014 awards must be submitted by 11.55pm on Friday 13 September 2013. Winners will again be invited to attend a glamorous celebrity ceremony in London in March next year.  

To nominate someone for an award or for more information on the Tesco Mum of the Year Awards 2014, please visit www.tescomagazine.com 

Local Nature Reserve Needs Your Votes! Is WWT Arundel Wetland Centre Britain’s Favourite Nature Reserve?

WWT Arundel Wetland Centre in West Sussex has been nominated as ‘Britain’s Favourite Nature Reserve’ for the prestigious Countryfile Awards 2013. The nominees were selected by nature writer Mark Cocker and TV presenter Ellie Harrison who noted that that Arundel Wetland Centre is ‘famed for its water voles.’ Ellie Harrison filmed WWT Arundel’s water vole population for an episode of The Big Wildlife Revival that will air in August on BBC.

Dave Fairlamb, the new Centre Manager at WWT Arundel, said “I am delighted the reserve has been nominated. Our team works hard to provide the perfect habitat for wildlife and a great day out for our visitors. We hope visitors and members will show how much they enjoy the reserve by taking a moment to cast a vote for WWT Arundel.”

Arundel Wetland Centre opened in 1976 on land leased from the Norfolk estate. One-fifth of the 62 acre reserve is a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) reedbed that visitors can cross on a wide wooden boardwalk that accommodates wheelchairs. 

Visitors can also glide through the reed beds in silent electric boats to view rare water voles from the colony re-established in 2005 and photograph wild birds from one of the many hides – including our new ‘Discovery Hide’ which is a comfortable new hide featuring ID panels, binoculars and telescopes to help beginner birdwatchers.

As well as attracting wild birds, the site is home to a collection of 250 birds of rare and endangered species from around the world. You can even hand feed some of them, including the friendly Hawaiian Nene -  the rarest goose in the world.

New developments on the reserve include the Arun Riverlife project and Discovery Hide, completed in July 2013. Work on the project involved re-landscaping a heavily silted lake into a vibrant river floodplain habitat with reed, fen and shingle areas providing safe breeding spots for the wild birds of the Arun Valley.

WWT Arundel Wetland Centre is also a haven for people, with many visitors calling this quiet reserve nestled in the South Downs National Park a hidden gem.

The ten nature reserves nominated were listed in the August issue of Countryfile Magazine. The final decision on a winner now rests with the public who can vote in three ways: by sending an email to awards@countryfile.com, by visiting http://www.countryfile.com/awardsvote or by filling in a form in Countryfile Magazine.

Other categories in the Countryfile Awards include the nation’s favourite brand of outdoor gear, favourite market town, favourite TV/radio presenter and favourite heritage site. Voting closes on Sept 30 2013.