Member Article

Trust supporter shortlisted for national award

Family-run Vine House Farm is delighted to announce it has been shortlisted for the ‘Charity Partnership Small Business Award’ at the 2016 Business Charity Awards.

The nomination comes after the Lincolnshire based farm announced it had reached the £1 million mark in donations to The Wildlife Trusts across the UK, including Northumberland Wildlife Trust.

Lucy Taylor of Vine House Farm said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the Small Business Charity Award. The fantastic support from our loyal customers has enabled us to go from strength to strength over the years thereby allowing us to support the wonderful work of all 47 Wildlife Trusts.”

She continued: “This is the first time we have been nominated for this award and, while there is some strong competition within the category, we are very much looking forward to attending the event which we are sure will be a fantastic night.”

The Business Charity Awards 2016 will be hosted on Wednesday 20 April and forms part of Fundraising Week, which seeks to reward all the amazing charity work that businesses across Great Britain have been involved with. There are some major national brands also shortlisted for awards, including Marks & Spencer, Royal Mail and British Gas, and Vine House Farm is just one of three small businesses that have been nominated, representing a real achievement for the company.

Mike Pratt, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Chief Executive said: “I am proud that our partnership with Vine House Farm has been shortlisted for a Business Charity Award. “Northumberland Wildlife Trust has worked with Nicholas Watts and Vine House Farm since 2007. With his genuine care for wildlife, honesty, integrity and authenticity, Nicholas is the driving force behind a partnership which has raised over £1 million for The Wildlife Trusts and has helped 19,000 households to benefit from inviting nature into their gardens. This is incredible support for a wildlife charity from a small family business.” Mike continued: “Regular contact with nature has a profoundly positive effect on our health and wellbeing and feeding the birds is a simple way to get in contact with wildlife. The way in which Nicholas manages his farm makes a meaningful difference to wildlife in Lincolnshire and in the same way we can all make a big difference by feeding birds and making our gardens friendly to wildlife.”

Vine House Farm started off with a clear vision which still holds true today; farming in a way that encourages wildlife and the wide range of habitats it needs. Their aspirations have always been to contribute to the preservation of wildlife through their growth of various wild bird foods and now their wonderful charity work is being recognised on a national level.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sue Bishop .