Visitor Payback Schemes don’t cost the Earth

22 May 2007 

Cornwall Wildlife Trust are about to stage the first event under a new five-year visitor payback scheme in partnership with corporate member, Venus Café at Tolcarne beach, Newquay.  Venus has set up a Wildlife Beach Fund from the proceeds of the visitor payback scheme, which is in place at their environmentally-friendly beach cafes in Cornwall and Devon. 

The Trust and Venus are inviting local residents and visitors to the county to attend these free events.  Events have been planned to give people the chance to explore this very special beach and marine wildlife habitat.  They are the first of many planned events over the next five years to raise awareness of the flora and fauna that inhabit the ocean and shoreline at Tolcarne Beach.

Events will start with a “Beach Clean & Scavenger Hunt” from 11am-1pm on Sunday June 3rd, and continue on Thursday August 16th with a “Rockpool Ramble and Colouring Competition” from 2-4pm.

On these days you could see sea anemones, blennies, velvet swimming crabs and Cornish sucker fish in the rock pools, and find sand-hoppers and sea slaters on the shore.  We will remove the litter that could be fatal to many of these creatures and all are welcome to join in and learn more about Cornwall's amazing marine environment.

It is predicted that the Venus Beach Wildlife Fund should raise a minimum of £25,000 for both Cornwall and Devon Wildlife Trusts over the 5 period.  Michael Smith, managing director of Venus, said, "We set up the Venus Beach Wildlife Fund so that our customers can support the Venus ethos of 'Loving the Beach' for everyone's enjoyment, now and in the future.”

Venus started the visitor payback scheme with the Trust back in 2006, where an additional 5 pence is added to tea and ice cream flakes, which makes up the Venus Beach Wildlife Fund.  The fund is then distributed to Cornwall and Devon Wildlife Trusts for their education work. 

If you are a tourism provider and want more information about setting up a visitor payback scheme, please contact Marie Preece on 01872 273939.  For more information about the work of Cornwall Wildlife Trust visit www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk.

Please contact Alison Forward to organise photo opportunities.