Northumberland Wildlife Trust receives two new corporate sponsors from the area

The First & Last Brewery in Elsdon is a new silver category corporate member, while Aaron Optometrists in Ashington is a new gold category corporate member.

Earlier this year, brewery owners Sam and Red Kellie created a beer called Ratty on behalf of the Trust to mark the reintroduction of water voles to the Kielder area and generously donated 20p from every bottle sold to the project.

Sam and Red trialled 500 pints at Bellingham Show last August and sold out in record time.

Sam said: “We’re really excited to be supporting Northumberland Wildlife Trust and the Restoring Ratty Project.

“It’s a great opportunity to support Northumberland Wildlife Trust and the Northumberland landscape where we live and work. We jumped on the opportunity to brew a beer which educates, informs and raises funds for the Restoring Ratty Project.”

A regular visitor to the wildlife charity’s Hauxley nature reserve, Aaron Optometrists owner, Dr Peter Frampton, previously studied environmental sciences and strives to reduce waste, use renewable resources and recycle.Situated on Woodhorn Road in Ashington, the practice provides a recycling service for spectacles and contact lenses.

Liz Lovatt, Northumberland Wildlife Trust m arketing officer, said: “What better way to start the summer season than with the news that we have two new organisations joining our family of corporate supporters.”