Reprieve for Moorland Mousie

THE Moorland Mousie Trust, a charity that protects endangered Exmoor ponies, has secured sufficient funds to save its visitor centre—at least for now. The trust, which launched an appeal for donations at the end of April (COUNTRY LIFE, May 3), has raised more than £35,000, thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign that saw more than 850 people pitch in to help. ‘We are totally overwhelmed by the response and are so grateful to everyone who’s donated,’ says the centre’s manager, Linzi Green.

Although the centre has enough money to operate until the end of the year, the trust still needs financial support to ensure its long-term survival and that of the ponies it looks after. To find out more about fundraising events or to make a donation, visit www.exmoorponycentre.org.uk.

Following phenomenal demand for its Northern Delights voyage to St Kilda, which reached the island last week, the National Trust for Scotland will run another cruise to the World Heritage Site in the autumn.

Setting sail from Greenock on September 10, the cruise will explore the Isle of Man and the west coast of Ireland, before arriving in St Kilda on September 16. It will then head to the Isle of Mull and western Scotland. This is the last chance to visit the World Heritage site before 2018, so tickets are selling fast. For more information or to book a place, visit www.nts.org.uk.