The National Trust are pleased to announce that their membership numbers have now soared to a whopping four million. This also comes at a time when figures show that some 90 million people visit National Trust properties each year in the UK. That’s a lot of visitors!

First founded in 1895, the cost of a membership was 10 shillings, with an initial 100 members. The National Trust first broke the million members barrier in 1981, and by 2002 had reached three million.

National Trust Director, Dame Fiona Reynolds, said -

In England you are never more than 40 minutes away from somewhere looked after by the National Trust. The trust is leading a campaign against the government’s proposed changes to the planning laws. From the smallest sculleries and garden grottoes to towering castle turrets and the wild expanses of Lake District countryside, the National Trust enables everyone to enjoy these beautiful, intriguing and exciting places forever. We were set up 116 years ago to look after special places so that they could be enjoyed by all. Clearly that founding aim remains as relevant today as it was then.

The National Trust now looks after an amazing 300 historic houses across the UK, aongside more than 600,000 acres of land and 700 miles of coastline. To finance the care of these amazing pieces of heritage, £120 million has been raised through memberships in the last financial year.

It’s great to see this worthwhile charity going from strength to strength as it protects some of the UK’s most unique and historic landmarks and countryside.

Help The National Trust

The National Trust Gift Shop has a great selection of presents to choose from, with each item helping to provide much needed funds to maintain and restore some of the UK’s most beautiful and historic landmarks. The National Trust rely solely on their income from membership fees, donations and purchases from the gift shop. Choose from -

• Wind up Radio
• Striped Scarf
• Ladybird Tower
• Virtual Squirrel
• Waterproof Rugs
• And many, many more…

> > Click here to order at The National Trust Gift Shop

The National Trust have a great offer this summer for all those people who fancy attending one of their hundreds of amazing spaces across the UK for the majority of the month of August 2011. All you need to do is click on the link at the bottom of this post and download the free PDF which will allow you -

• Free entry for two children (between 5-16)
• Between 1st – 26th August 2011
• Only one voucher per group
• Not valid on bank holidays or bank holiday weekends

Plus if you order a National Trust membership between these dates you can now receive two months free, so you only have to pay for 10 months instead of 12, brilliant! So if you and the the family are planning on visiting one of the amazing National Trust sites this month, click on the link below and print of the sheet to enjoy two children for free. it really is that simple.

> > Click here to download offer

Help The National Trust

The National Trust Gift Shop has a great selection of presents to choose from, with each item helping to provide much needed funds to maintain and restore some of the UK’s most beautiful and historic landmarks. The National Trust rely solely on their income from membership fees, donations and purchases from the gift shop. Choose from -

• Wind up Radio
• Striped Scarf
• Ladybird Tower
• Virtual Squirrel
• Waterproof Rugs
• And many, many more…

> > Click here to order at The National Trust Gift Shop

Currently the confirmed death toll stands at 1,596 people according to Japanese broadcaster NHK, however that figure is likely to increase substantially over the coming days, with police warning that the death toll in the Miyagi region alone will exceed 10,000.

Large numbers of survivors are gathered in emergency shelters, and many are without fresh running water, heat and power.

The situation at the quake-hit Fukushima nuclear plant remained grave, a day after an explosion at the nuclear power plant. The cooling systems of two of the nuclear reactors at the power plant have failed following the earthquake, and there are serious fears that both are in danger of melting down, which could have potentially serious consequences for the environment.

On Saturday, a hydrogen explosion blew apart the building housing reactor 1, where technicians had been releasing radioactive steam as part of their attempts to cool the reactor.

The Japanese government says it is likely that the two reactors have already suffered at least a partial meltdown, but since the explosion took place on Saturday there has been no confirmation over the extent of the damage, largely because the plant’s operator Tokyo Electric Power has been unable to view the state of the reactors.

Sea water is being injected into reactors 1 and 3 in an attempt to cool them a last-ditch move that will render the reactors unusable.

The authorities say that radiation levels around the damaged plant have exceeded legal safety limits and tens of thousands of people are being evacuated from within a 20km (12.4-mile) radius. “The current situation of the earthquake, tsunami and the nuclear plants is in a way the most severe crisis in the past 65 years since World War II. Whether we Japanese can overcome this crisis depends on each of us. I strongly believe that we can get over this great earthquake and tsunami by joining together.” Mr. Kan said.

The earthquake has been both heart breaking and devastating for the Japanese people, and the world has responded with the The United States, the United Kingdom, China, and South Korea among 69 governments that have offered to provide assistance. A number of rescue teams from around the world arrived Sunday in Japan and are helping lead a broad international effort to bring relief to areas ravaged by Friday’s earthquake and tsunami.

Aid groups such as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have sent teams to some of the worst-hit areas, including Sendai, Narita, Asahi and Tokyo. Mercy Corps International teamed with Peace Winds Japan to rush aid to affected regions.
The UK has sent a search and rescue team made up of 63 fire service search and rescue specialists. The team also includes medical support staff and two dogs, all of whom are already in Japan, the UK foreign office has said.

Despite the devastation there have been some remarkable tales of survival with the Kyodo News Agency reporting of a dramatic rescue of a 60 year old man that had been swept 15 kilometers out to sea off Fukushima prefecture.

The man, identified as Hiromitsu Shinkawa of Minami Soma, was swept away with his house. Mr. Shinkawa was later spotted floating in the sea, waving a self-made red flag while standing on a piece of his house’s roof.

After being rescued Mr. Shinkaqwa said that he and his wife had been swept away by the tsunami whilst returning home to gather some possessions following the earthquake, with his wife unlikely to have survived.

“I was saved by holding onto the roof,” he said, “but my wife was swept away. No helicopters or boats that came nearby noticed me, I thought today was the last day of my life.”

When a member of Japan’s Maritime Self Defense Force handed him something to drink on the rescue boat, Shinkawa drank it and burst into tears, Kyodo reported.

How You Can Help Those in Need In Japan

If you would like to help with the disaster relief effort in Japan there are a number of charities you can support with a charity donation. The terrible natural disaster will have a long lasting affect on the country of Japan so please donate whatever you can.

• British Red Cross The Japanese Red Cross has been working on the ground since the disaster began, mobilising 86 teams, made up of around 600 doctors, nurses and support staff, to provide first aid and healthcare and assess the damage and needs of the communities affected.
• Global Giving This fund will support organizations providing relief and aid to victims.
• Save the Children have launched a £1 million appeal to help families affected by the devastating Japanese earthquake and tsunami. They have a team in Japan and are responding to the needs of children affected by the disaster.
• World Vision is bringing immediate relief supplies to those left homeless. They are also sending teams to provide help for children who have been traumatised by the double disaster.

The car itself has been donated to The National Trust from car manufacturer Morgan, and even though this splendid specimen may be old, it can still go from 0-60mph in less than 8 seconds!

Managing Director of Morgan, Charles Morgan, said -

The Morgan Motor Company is proud of its local roots and we are thrilled to be supporting the National Trust in their endeavours to save one of Worcestershire’s historic houses. Our two organisations share the same principles in celebrating heritage, caring for the environment and, of course, giving our customers a great deal of fun.

The raffle is being held to raise money to refurbish the 18th Century Croome Court property in Worcestershire. Each ticket costs only £5, so if you would like to enter, simply click on the link below before the end of Monday 9th May 2011 to try your luck at winning this superb prize. Good luck!

> > Click here to enter National Trust raffle

Anyway, I digress. Now is the perfect time to be thinking of purchasing a few interesting presents for your friends and loved ones, and whether they have a beard or not, everyone deserves something a bit special at Christmas. We at Donation4Charity have a vast array of charity gift ideas that will allow you to bring something different to the table this year, as surely the thought of more socks cannot be filling anyone with the very elixir of Yuletide spirit ( though I don’t mind a pair of Pringle myself!)

A charity gift is an interesting way to show someone that not only do you care for them, but also that you care for those who are less fortunate across the world. The funds raised from your purchases help your chosen charities to provide relief to some of the world’s poorest people…

it’s the gift that keeps on giving.

We have hundreds of charity gift ideas available for your perusal, but I have personally chosen 10 of my favourite gifts to give this year (and not a stick-on beard in sight!)

• WWF Adopt an Animal
  One of the most popular charity gifts for young and old is the adopt an animal scheme from WWF. This costs as little as £3 a month and the recipient will receive a cuddly toy, certificate, greetings card and of course provide funds to help save your choice of animal’s species and habitat.
• Cows ‘n’ Things from AGE UK
  Why not purchase an online gift from Cows ‘n’ Things, the only charity focusing on the needs of older people in developing countries. Each virtual gift comes with a personalised e-card, or you could even have it delivered by post, just like they used to do in the olden days!
• Oxfam Unwrapped
  Choose from a great selection of virtual gifts this Christmas, and if you spend £5 or more before 2nd January 2011 you will receive a £5 off voucher for Pizza Express. You can’t say fairer than that, so why not grab a ‘pizza’ the action (I know, terrible!)
• Centrepoint Gifts
  This new and exciting virtual gift range helps young homeless people find their feet by providing a hot meal, shelter and education. Christmas can be a lonely and dangerous time for those living on the street, so a Centrepoint gift truly is a present that keeps on giving.
• Cancer Research Gift Shop
  This cracking online shop offers an amazing array of gift cards, wrapping and most importantly, presents, this Christmas whilst providing the funds to help Cancer Research’s life saving work. Plus you can receive 10% off all order before 31st December 2010 if you add the voucher code 10TGN0017 at the online checkout, plus free delivery on all orders over £50.
• National Trust Membership
  With the UK looking so magical during the winter months, now is a fantastic time to visit some of the National Trust’s 300 historic houses and over 600,000 acres of countryside. Great Britain has a truly unique national heritage that is unsurpassed anywhere on the planet, and the gift of a National Trust membership is the perfect present for people to explore some of the UK’s most prestigious sites. Plus if you pay by direct debit you can now receive 12 months for the price of 9. A great value gift.
• Present Aid
  These great gifts are ‘virtual’, so they make the perfect last minute present. There’s a whole host of gifts to choose from that will help people who are less fortunate than yourself. Whether it’s a goat, a meal for 80 children or just a simple football, your donation will go a long way in helping change the lives of people who are desperate need of your help.
• Sponsor a Puppy with Guide Dogs for the Blind
  From just £5 a month, you can provide a loved one with a gift that will truly help someone without sight to live a fulfilling life thanks to the aid of a guide dog. The recipient will receive a gift certificate, an exclusive calendar, plus regular updates on how their puppy is progressing during its training and subsequent initiation into a person’s life.
• RSPB Membership
  The festive season sees a wide range of colourful birds come out to play, and what better way to enjoy the British countryside than with an RSPB membership? This great gift entitles the holder free entry to over 100 RSPB nature reserves across the UK, plus a free joining gift, a quarterly magazine, plus loads of extra bits for children.
• UNICEF UK Shop
  This online gift shop has an amazing selection of presents for young and old, whether it is a babies bib, an Adidas football or a friendship bracelet. All UNICEF Gifts provide the funds to allow this amazing charity the ability to help children across the globe. Plus if you order today you can now receive ’3 for 2′ on Christmas Cards.

So there you go, those are my top ten choices of charity gifts this year available through the Donation4Charity website. Have I chosen these because I would like someone to buy them for me? Yes. Am I selfishly, sort of writing a letter to Santa in the hope he reads this via the wonderful worldwide web? Yes. Will I receive any of those gifts for Christmas? I hope so, I’ve made it pretty clear what I want!

> > Click here for other charity gift ideas

Each membership receives entry to all of these historic houses, country parks and gardens with free parking, plus you will also receive a free handbook, free magazine, plus a free newsletter covering all the latest events in your area. The new low cost pricing structure is as follows -

• Individual   – Was £48.50 Now £36.38 SAVING £12.12!!
• Joint Price  – Was £79.50 Now £59.63 SAVING £19.87!!
• Fam. 2 Adult – Was £84.50 Now £63.38 SAVING £21.12!!
• Fam. 1 Adult – Was £53.50 Now £40.13 SAVING £13.37!!

The National Trust receive no direct support from the government, so buy joining not only will you receive free access to some of the most beautiful areas in the UK, you will also be providing the funds to help them to be maintained and restored to their full glory.

> > Click here to order a National Trust membership

Other ways to help The National Trust

The National Trust Gift Shop has a great selection of presents to choose from, with each item helping to provide much needed funds to maintain and restore some of the UK’s most beautiful and historic landmarks. The National Trust rely for solely on the income from membership fees, donations and purchases from the gift shop. Choose from -

• Wind up Radio
• Striped Scarf
• Ladybird Tower
• Virtual Squirrel
• Waterproof Rugs
• And many, many more…

> > Click here to order at The National Trust Gift Shop

WWF UK has shortlisted their final 3 short films for their fantastic Earth Hour, and your vote can help decide the top prize-winner. That’s right, decision time is finally here for the 3 aspiring film makers whose one minute Earth Hour videos have made it this far. Simply click on the link below to check out the finalists and vote, it will only take you a couple of minutes and all 3 shorts a pretty cool. After you’ve chosen your favourite why not tell a few of your friends to vote too!

> > Click here to watch the 3 Earth Hour finalists and videos

The films are fun and inspiring, and your vote could be the deciding factor in who wins the whole competition. Earth Hour commences across the globe on Saturday 27th March 2010 at 8.30pm, when millions of people across the globe will be turning their lights off for one hour in a show of global unity in the call for action against climate change.

So why not get involved by checking out and voting for the videos and turn your lights off at 8.30pm this Saturday, and join millions of other people across the world who want the climate change issues to be resolved as quickly as possible.

Help WWF UK with a Charity Gift

The WWF is a non profit organisation who can only sustain their tireless work in saving the planet and its inhabitants through donations. You can help raise funds through the WWF Adopt an Animal scheme.

From as little as £3 a month you receive a certificate, a print of your animal, a greetings card, and a soft toy that would make a fantastic charity gift for a loved one.

> > Click here to Adopt an Animal with WWF UK

View other top charity gifts

The service has pledged to allocate $280,000 to fund surveillance activities in the area, which is so large in size it is actually bigger than neighbouring country El Salvador. The area, which is formed by the Alto Purus National Park and the Purus Communal Reserve, has been a protected area since it was created in 2004 thanks to the support of WWF wildlife charity.

This amazing area of area of untouched forestary in the southwestern Amazon, is home to a wide and diverse selection of wildlife, with much of it endangered species. Not only is home to at least eight indigenous ethnic groups, living in voluntary isolation, but also pink dolphins, jaguars and arapaimas to name just a few of the rare animals that inhabit this wonderful life centre.

Director of WWF’s Amazon Headwaters Initiative, Jorge Herrera, said -

This represents a major success for all Peruvians. The government’s commitment to safeguard the Peruvian Amazon will help us build long term conservation strategies for roughly 3 million hectares of some of the richest forests in the world.

WWF has help to equip and implement seven control posts with the area, whilst supporting the control and surveillance carried out by reserve authorities. Illegal mahogany logging and poaching has not only a damaging effect on the landscape itself, but also the indigenous communities that reside within it’s confines. Thanks to the Peruvian government’s support, a team of more than 20 park guards and experienced technicians will be on hand to help protect the areas natural beauty and resources.

Help WWF UK with a Charity Gift

The WWF is a non profit organisation who can only sustain their tireless work in saving the planet and its inhabitants through donations. You can help raise funds through the WWF Adopt an Animal scheme.

From as little as £3 a month you receive a certificate, a print of your animal, a greetings card, and a soft toy that would make a fantastic charity gift for a loved one.

> > Click here to Adopt an Animal with WWF UK

View other top charity gifts

Head of Climate Change at WWF-UK, Keith Allott, said -

Stories currently being talked up in the media and diplomatic manoeuvres behind the scenes reflect attempts by industrialized countries to lower expectations for Copenhagen. They are currently dodging hard decisions on slashing their emissions and providing funding for the transition to a low carbon economy.

The world is looking for leadership, but instead the leaders are starting to hand out their excuses in advance. This is especially worrying , because next week, the EU must agree its position on reduction targets and financial support, which will carry through to Copenhagen. Yesterday’s Environment Council meeting took some steps forward, but on Tuesday Finance Leaders failed to agree any funding for developing countries. That means Heads of State must make a firm financial commitment next week, or the EU will come to Copenhagen empty-handed.

With the final meeting before Copenhagen taking place next week in Barcalona, WWF is concerned that diplomatic rumours are abound that a binding legal agreement will not be signed in Copenhagen. This is particularly worrying as unless a legitimate contract is entered, the chances of a climate catastrophe will increase dramatically. The contract should feature major emission reduction targets for all countries across the globe alongside major support for all developing countries. Only through this course of action can the climate change issue realistically be tackled.

Help WWF UK with a Charity Gift

The WWF is a non profit organisation who can only sustain their tireless work in saving the planet and its inhabitants through donations. You can help raise funds through the WWF Adopt an Animal scheme.

From as little as £3 a month you receive a certificate, a print of your animal, a greetings card, and a soft toy that would make a fantastic charity gift for a loved one.

> > Click here to Adopt an Animal with WWF UK

View other top charity gifts

Campaign to Protect Rural England has recently stepped up its campaign to promote local foods by strongly objecting to Competition Commission proposals which would encourage more supermarkets to be built. If implemented, this measure could force hundreds of small and independent shops out of business, deny the consumer real choice and reduce the availability of local foods.

Supermarkets often do not have a clear definition of what is meant by ‘local food’. CPRE’s definition is that the product should be grown and processed within 30 miles of the store. Waitrose has adopted a definition of local foods based on this recommendation, and we hope that other supermarkets will follow its lead in order to give consumers a genuine, informed choice.

In addition we recently launched a new website run jointly with other organisations called www.makingfoodwork.co.uk. The CPRE are also getting active in local communities and schools to gain more support for local foods through our local branches. For example CPRE Cheshire has started a ‘Buy Local’ award scheme as part of its campaign to support locally-produced food. Eligible businesses include farm shops, market traders, high street shops and restaurants that make significant efforts to provide genuinely local food.

>> Click here to register your support for our local foods campaign.