How your winter fuel payments can support Sunderland's popular Exmoor ponies

Durham Wildlife Trust, based at Rainton Meadows, near Houghton, is appealing to people over the state pension age to donate the payment to the charity if they don’t need it.

Those born on or before October 5, 1954, are eligible to receive between £100 and £300 each winter, with most payments made automatically between November and December.

By donating their winter fuel allowance to the trust, supporters can help to offset their carbon and fuel usage throughout the year as well as contributing to the trust’s vital work.

Trust supporter, Roger Smith, of Durham, said: “When I qualified for the Winter Fuel Allowance last year, my first thought was that I didn't need it for myself, and that I should use it to help the environment instead.

“I wanted to make a difference locally, so I asked Durham Wildlife Trust if they could use it to plant some plum trees on one of their sites. It's not a big thing on its own, but if we all do a little, it'll add up to a lot.”

£150 is enough to pay for a fruit tree to be planted and maintained at Rainton Meadows nature reserve.

The trust says:

£250 is enough to pay for the upkeep of one of Durham Wildlife Trust’s Exmoor ponies for a year; £300 is enough to pay for a day’s training for volunteers so they can provide vital support to the conservation team; £1,000 is enough to pay for looking after 20 acres of Durham Wildlife Trust woodland for a year.

Head of Operations and Development Zoe Hull said: “By donating the winter fuel payment, if you don’t need it, you will be helping to sustain the work we are doing to protect our wildlife for future generations.

“We are a small, local charity that relies on the support of our members. Membership enables us to manage our nature reserves, run conservation projects, deliver environmental education activities, and provide thousands of volunteering opportunities each year.”

Supporters can donate at durhamwt.com/winter-fuel

Information about the winter fuel payment can be found at gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment

Information about becoming a member of Durham Wildlife Trust can be at www.durhamwt.com/join with memberships from £2.50 a month.

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