Partner Article

Beer to aid region's voles

It seems an unlikely pairing, but this summer beer-lovers in the North East will be able to help endangered water voles as they enjoy a pint in the sunshine.

Drinkers in the North East can toast the health of the animals with a specially brewed ale to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the North Pennines becoming an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The Allendale Brewery, which developed the North Pennines Beauty beer, pledged to donate 10p from every bottle sold to vital conservation work in the area to preserve the water voles’ habitat.

The number of water voles in the UK has dropped by 95% in the last 80 years because of changes to the landscape in which they breed.

The AONB Partnership - an alliance of 22 organisations interested in the welfare of the area - plans to help the water voles by using the money to help create the right environment for the animals to settle.

Chris Woodley-Stewart, the North Pennines AONB representative, said parts of the West Allen valley were identified as areas where water voles might move in if conditions were right.

“The money raised from the sale of North Pennines Beauty will be used to create the perfect habitats for these wonderful little creatures to thrive,” he said.

The beer will be sold in pubs and shops throughout the North East.

AONB Partnership chairman Richard Turner said: “It is brilliant that we have been able to work alongside the Allendale Brewery to mark this important milestone.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .