The boost is thanks to the Co-op Local Community Fund. Every time a Co-op member shops at a local store, 1% of what they spend on selected own-brand products and services goes to the Local Community Fund.

Hazel Jones, Senior Fundraising Officer at Cumbria Wildlife Trust, said: “Thank you to all Co-op members for this fantastic sum, which will help us kit-out the family-friendly hides at South Walney Nature Reserve. The hides will be full of information, artefacts and displays that will inspire people about wildlife, the nature reserve and the environment. There are still four months to go with the scheme, so I urge Co-op members to sign up today and help us bring these great viewing hides to life for the local community.” 

Shoppers just need to login to their online account at www.coop.co.uk/membership and nominate Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s project, South Walney Family Hides, to help raise funds so that more people can enjoy the spectacular wildlife at this special place.

South Walney Nature Reserve is home to Cumbria’s only grey seal colony, as well as huge numbers of sea birds. In summer it’s a great place to see nesting gulls, eiders, oystercatchers and ringed plovers, as well as Arctic, little and sandwich terns. The seals can be seen playing in the water at high tide. Click here for tide table.