TOTTERIDGE VALLEY BIRDERS AND BARRATT LONDON SUPPORT NATURE TRUST

The Cameron Bespolka Trust, a charity set up to inspire young people with a love of nature, has received a donation from Barratt London. The housebuilder, responsible for the Ridgeway Views development in Mill Hill, has donated £1,000 toward the charity’s site in the New Forest nature reserve, as a thank you to one of its Young Ambassadors, Samuel Levy. The donation will support the renovation of Cameron’s Cottage; a place embedded in nature where young people can learn about wildlife and the environment.

Samuel is also a member of the Totteridge Valley Birders and recently collaborated with Barratt London to produce a document about the Valley’s unique wildlife local to the housebuilder’s scheme. The document is publicly available and can be found in a rewilding box outside the development sales suite for residents who are keen to explore the local area.

Samuel comments: “I’m proud to draw the bridge between these two organisations which help encourage the next generation to love and appreciate our animals, nature and our environment. I would like to thank Barratt London for its contribution to the Trust and I look forward to seeing Cameron’s Cottage when the renovation is complete.”

Set up in memory of Cameron Bespolka, a young boy who had a strong love of nature and in particular, bird watching, the Cameron Bespolka Trust seeks to create places where young people can stay and connect with nature through outdoor activities, especially those who may not otherwise have had the means or opportunity. Cameron’s Cottage will enable young people to engage with wildlife and will encourage them to make our planet a better place in the face of climate change.

Corinne Cruickshank, the Founder Trustee for the Cameron Bespolka Trust, adds: “I would like to thank Barratt London on behalf of all the young people we support. We are dedicated to creating new opportunities and programmes to highlight the positive impact of nature on physical and mental wellbeing. We are so grateful for Barratt London’s support which will make a huge difference to our on-going work. It means so much to us to inspire others in Cameron’s memory.”

Barratt London’s Community Fund sees the housebuilder donate £1,000 per month to a local registered charity or organisation working to improve the quality of life for their communities. The donation to the Cameron Bespolka Trust will support the Trust’s mission of providing young people with a life-long love of nature, as well as enjoying the huge benefits that being outside brings.

Pam Reardon, Sales and Marketing Director at Barratt East London, comments: “We are grateful to Samuel and the Totteridge Valley Birders for their help in creating the ‘Guide to Bird Spotting in the Totteridge Valley’. Their knowledge of the wildlife here has been invaluable and we hope our residents have a great time exploring the beautiful surroundings at Ridgeway Views.

“We are also honoured to be able to support the Cameron Bespolka Trust and their mission to encourage young people to engage with nature, a cause which we are very passionate about at Barratt London, and which we have been supporting for many years through our partnership with the RSPB.”