PRESS RELEASE

11 May 2009

OPTICRON JOINS THE FIGHT TO SAVE WATER VOLES

Opticron, the binocular and telescope manufacturer, has very kindly shown its support for the Northwest Lowlands Water Vole Project of which Cheshire Wildlife Trust is one of the key partners.

Chris Galvin, a sales representative from the company – whose products are more commonly associated with birdwatching – agreed to donate three pairs of binoculars to the project.
The binoculars are worth almost £400 and will prove invaluable when it comes to water vole surveying.

They will allow the Project Officers and volunteers to be able to survey otherwise inaccessible areas, for example very steep-sided ditches, common in the Gowy and Mersey Washlands landscape, that it is too dangerous to enter.

Richard Gardner, Water Vole Project Officer for Cheshire Wildlife Trust said:

“This will contribute to water vole conservation across the Northwest and will help us to reverse the dramatic decline that this once common mammal has suffered in recent years.

“We would like to thank Optricron for their generosity, which also demonstrates that if everyone does their bit for wildlife, together we can make a big difference to the conservation of species in Cheshire and beyond.”

The Northwest Lowlands Water Vole Project is also funded by SITA Trust, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Greater Manchester Ecology Unit, United Utilities, Environment Agency, Restore UK, Chester Zoo, and Halton, Macclesfield and Vale Royal Borough Councils.

-ENDS-