Wightlink to sponsor travel for a Wilder Wight
15th January 2021
With exciting plans for a Wilder Wight, the local Wildlife Trust expects to see an increase in travel by their staff to and from the island over the coming years to help turn these plans into a reality.
There is huge potential to make the Island richer for wildlife and plans for a Wilder Wight are a top priority for the Trust. Research has proved there are real opportunities to reach the goal of 30% of land and sea where wildlife is recovering. The Island is also central to the Trust’s strategic ambitions for rewilding and restoring missing species such as the cirl bunting, chough, and beaver, as well as demonstrating nature-based solutions.
Having worked together for several years, 2021 sees the relationship move forwards, with a new formalised partnership. This will provide essential Wildlife Trust business travel to and from the Isle of Wight sponsored by the ferry company.
Senior Reserves Manager Jamie Marsh said “I currently travel over to the mainland at least a couple of times a week. Knowing that my travel is being sponsored is amazing and will help us divert the saved funds into nature conversation projects on the Isle of Wight, including community education and engagement.”
Over the last few years Wightlink has hosted the Trust’s Secret of the Solent Marine Champions on board its ferries, helping to showcase the fascinating wildlife that lives beneath the waves of the Solent as part of the project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. To date around 915 passengers have engaged with the project whilst on board, across of a total of 94 journeys.
Keith Greenfield, Wightlink’s Chief Executive, said “We share the Trust’s aims to protect local wildlife and inspire people to love nature and already work closely with its Marine Champions in the Secrets of the Solent project. We are delighted to establish a formal partnership so we can support reserve staff to carry out their important environmental work on both sides of the Solent.”
The partnership is a fantastic start to 2021 and the Trust looks forward to coming together with Wightlink, in more ways than the sponsored travel. This will create opportunities to showcase the incredible wildlife living on the Isle of Wight and promote the island as a great place to live, work and visit.