We're still collecting donations
On the 17th January 2021 we'd raised £1,395 with 24 supporters in 62 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
A passion for guiding people to connect with nature inspiring them to increase their knowledge and improve their health and wellbeing too.
by Natural Links in Alverstone, England, United Kingdom
On the 17th January 2021 we'd raised £1,395 with 24 supporters in 62 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
Our Story
Update
We here at Natural Links have been humbled by the incredible testimonials that we have received this year. Many of them gathered to support our Crowdfunder. We set out to bring nature into people's lives but our offer has turned out to be so much more valuable than a series of events.
Making a connection with nature and the outdoors is known for being vital for wellbeing and fitness and those who have joined us certainly back that up referring to getting together with us in nature as being a lifeline, a much needed, holistic experience during a time of isolation.
Unfortunately, continuing restrictions related to Covid-19 is threatening the future of Natural Links and its key objective to bring people back to nature. We really need your help to carry on as a new business, we are receiving no funding. With a little help, Natural Links will flourish on the Isle of Wight, available and affordable to all who wish to access nature guiding at its best.
Benefits
As mentioned above, Dave is finding that his trips into nature have become more of a necessity for his groups. They come to him, hungry for the outdoors and to be able to identify more of their indigenous wildlife. After a few weeks - they talk of benefitting from improved levels of health, fitness and wellbeing, of discovering new habitats and parts of their beloved country that they didnt know existed - and of making new friends. Please see some of our incredible testimonials here....
Testimonials
“Dave Fairlamb of Natural Links has been a life saver during this difficult and unbalancing time. His Bird Walks and Nature Rambles around the Isle of Wight are pure joy. He has a great deal of experience and encyclopaedic knowledge of all things feathered, and nature in general. Put all this together with the very engaging way he points out things I would otherwise had missed, and his amiable demeanour whilst doing so and you have a winning combination for a fabulous day out in the countryside. I hope he never leaves our island and we can keep him for ourselves!“
Alex and Jane
"A complete novice I really enjoyed my introduction to bird watching and nature walks with Natural links, led by Dave. His enthusiasm and passion shines through, as well as his ability to connect with the novice and more experienced. I've really enjoyed exploring more of the Island (where I live) and discovering the wonders of nature that's on my doorstep."
Linda
“ Natural Links walks and rambles have been a life changing experience. They have been most inspiring and enjoyable in so many ways - getting to know the Isle of Wight and learning so much about the birds, animals and plants through Dave Fairlamb’s incredible knowledge and enthusiasm.”
Sabrina
Events organised since regulations eased, have been fully booked and have included Bird walks, Up the Downs Wildlife Rambles and Rock Pool Rediscovery sessions.
Natural Links is also offering regular wildlife tours at The Garlic Farm on The Isle of Wight as part of a collaboration which included a bird migration holiday over the first weekend of October.
The business is based on the Isle of Wight but is growing and developing across the UK with events and holidays being offered across the country. Future wildlife holidays are planned in Hampshire, Norfolk, Northumberland, and North Yorkshire and as far away as South Africa with a Safari in the diary for October 2021.
Over the period of lockdown Natural Links has attracted a growing and loyal following on social media.
Says Dave: “It all started with me occupying myself with daily posts on local site, Nextdoor.co.uk during lockdown. I am incredibly lucky to live beside a nature reserve and was keen to record and share my wildlife encounters –happily, everyone seemed to really enjoy my daily sightings.
As the Nextdoor audience grew, the posts soon migrated to social media, and have featured birds, butterflies, wildflowers, and mammals – most of them accessible locally to the majority of the Natural Links audience.
Veronica Chrisp, Dave’s partner, looks after the communications side of the business. “The secret of Dave’s success on and offline is based on a lifelong career and fascination of the natural world. He really knows his stuff and loves to engage with people. We now have more than 1000 followers who love to interact with us sharing their own sitings and experiences.
The global COVID-19 pandemic has created a very uncertain landscape for millions of British small businesses, which is going to make it very challenging for businesses to survive. Together we can help them.
Crowdfunder are offering up their platform to allow all UK small businesses to pre-sell their meals, events, hotel bookings etc. for cash now on a promise to redeem these at a later date.
This project offered rewards