Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust welcomes 50,000th supporter (From Craven Herald)

Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust welcomes 50,000th supporter

8:00am Thursday 14th February 2013 in News

The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) has recruited the support of 50,000 individuals since it began its work caring for the landscape, environment and communities of the Dales in 1996.

The trust, which is based in Clapham, reached its milestone with the help of Alison Miernik from Knaresborough who became the charity’s 50,000th supporter when she made a donation to its woodland restoration project.

She said: “I have always loved trees and it saddens me to see some of them disappearing either through disease or felling.

“Yorkshire is such a beautiful place and its surroundings should be looked after and contributed to as much as possible. I would definitely encourage members of the public and local businesses to consider donating trees to such a worthy cause and help preserve this wonderful part of England.

“I am going to make it a part of my family tradition to donate four trees at the start of every New Year (one each for my husband Les, daughters Laura and Emily, and myself). Hopefully this will also be a tradition for my daughters to continue.”

Trust director David Sharrod said: “It really is wonderful to know that 50,000 people share our passion for the Yorkshire Dales to such an extent that they choose to support our work.

“I’d like to say a huge thank you to each and every one of these kind people. It is only with their generous donations that we are able to continue our vital work. We are delighted to have reached this significant milestone in the charity’s life, and are looking forward to meeting many more people who wish to support our work in the future.”

As well as receiving support from individuals, YDMT also works in partnership with many businesses to deliver a wide range of projects which benefit all aspects of life in the Yorkshire Dales.

One such organisation is People’s Postcode Lottery, whose players have raised £301,332 for YDMT, helping the charity to continue to support and deliver projects such as restoring wildflower hay meadows and wetland habitats, providing training opportunities for young local people, and delivering pioneering education and outreach work for people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery Clara Govier said: “The continual support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery ensures that funding for charities, such as YDMT, continues to make a huge difference.”

YDMT is still receiving support from the charity’s first ever donor, David Cansfield, of Harrogate. He made his first donation when the trust was set up in 1996 and has been giving regularly ever since.

Mr Cansfield and Mrs Miernik, along with their partners, joined YDMT to plant a commemorative tree on the Bolton Abbey Estate.