I’m sure you’ve noticed the RSPB Pin Badge boxes - little blue boxes with a picture of a robin. We spread them right across Wales, from Holyhead to Newport, to get the message of saving nature right across Wales. For the price of a pint of milk you can be the proud owner of over 50 current badge designs from kingfishers to killer whales.
Although small, these pin badges do more for conservation than simply allowing people to show their valuable support for the RSPB. The money generated from the badges is an impressive amount. Last year, across the whole of the UK, we raised £500,000 from our pin badges alone. This money covers aspects of our work that we can’t traditionally obtain funding for; whether it’s for creating homes for sparrows on our reserves, providing bug hotels for children to make at events or even paying the running costs of our visitor toilet facilities! Without doubt, the RSPB wouldn’t be able to achieve half as much as it does without the money from the sale of our pin badges.Pin Box minder volunteer, Christine Matthews, explains what it’s like to be part of the pin badge family:
“From my childhood in the 1940s nature has always featured in my life. Lives were very simple then, each season in turn bringing delights. From early spring flowers to decorate the village church at Easter, through to harvest and Christmas, the countryside provided generous bounties. In my 70s, I have a limiting chronic condition, but the little work I do for RSPB reassures me that I can still make a contribution to the world's beauty. It is good to meet new people and I do enjoy counting the cash!
“I've only to look at the birds on our feeders to know how worthwhile it all is. And this weekend a little frog has made his home in our barrel fishpond where he sits catching insects while just above butterflies and bees are feeding on nectar from the buddleia. Isn't life good?” We are always looking for fresh locations to display our badge boxes and also for new volunteers to join our pin badge family. So, if you have a suggestion of where we can display these important badges or if you would like to have a round of boxes to sell yourself, please get in touch. The money collected from looking after the boxes makes a significant difference to wildlife in Wales and all those £1s work together to make sure we can continue to provide a home for nature. Anyone is welcome to volunteer and we’re particularly looking for volunteers in Llandudno & Blaenau Ffestiniog. Please visit http://bit.ly/1GMEyXF for more information. Amy Robinson, Fundraising Officer, RSPB Cymru