Charities

One of the South West’s largest conservation charities has announced its results for the year.

The Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust is the charity that runs Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts in Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall, as well as several nature reserves in Devon.

And while Paignton Zoo visitor numbers were down, Newquay Zoo and Living Coasts both saw increases.

In the twelve months to the end of October 2014 Paignton Zoo Environmental Park received 439,716 visitors compared with 462,660 for the same period last year, a drop of 22,944. The Zoo’s business...

Local families and children have just a few more days to donate their pre-loved toys to the Argos Toy Exchange in support of children’s charity Barnardo’s, which ends on 25th November.

The Argos Toy Exchange, a fundraising initiative which kicked off in October, encourages parents and children across the county to donate unwanted toys to their local Argos or Barnardo’s store, and in return they will receive a £5.00 gift voucher to redeem when they spend £35 or more on toys at Argos up until Christmas Eve. The money raised from the sale of the donated toys will go directly to...

A handsome barn owl and a squirrel in the snow are just two images a local wildlife charity has chosen for its 2014 Christmas cards. Devon Wildlife Trust has been fundraising through Christmas card sales for many years and in 2013, nearly £6,000 was raised to support its vital work for local wildlife. In the past money raised has been used for vital projects including to providing winter homes for Devon’s dormice and restoring wild flower meadows for butterflies and bees. This year, Devon Wildlife Trust has added a number of new lines. A brightly coloured Kingfisher and a snowy Cow join...

Retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis has invited designer Soula Zavacopoulos, from Chawleigh, to sell her ‘Wisdom of Kids’ books in 98 Ryman stores to raise funds for BBC Children in Need.

Ryman nor Soula Zavacopoulos will make a penny from the venture – because all of the profits will go directly to the charity.

A special price of £4.99 (£2 off the normal retail price) has been set for this fundraising campaign and at least £4 from the sale of each book will benefit BBC Children In Need, helping disadvantaged children across the UK.

The book is now on sale in the...