Opticron are proud to sponsor the National Biodiversity Network's 2024 Awards for Wildlife Recording. Congratulations to Ben Rumsby for winning the NBN Young Person's Award and Charlotte Shenkin for winning the NBN Newcomer Award! Each winner won an Opticron voucher to purchase equipment of their choice.
Founded in 2024, Wild Ouseburn is an urban rewilding project based in Newcastle's Ouseburn Valley. The project aims to engage local communities with nature and enhance and conserve local wildlife. With Opticron's support, Wild Ouseburn provide binoculars for those taking part in wildlife recording activities such as bird surveys. Wild Ouseburn is part of the CIC (Community Interest Company) Wild Intrigue, founded and run by Heather Devey and Cain Scrimgeour.
Each year the Mammal Society hosts the University Mammal Challenge - an annual competition that encourages university students to monitor mammals on their campus, competing for prizes whilst also raising awareness about the importance of protecting the UK's mammals. Opticron were delighted to donate the Discovery WA ED 8x32 binocular as the first prize for the 2024 challenge. Congratulations to the Craibstone Critters and their team leader Charlotte Wood for their win!
Writtle University College received a donation of 12 8x21 Opticron binoculars to support their 'Wildlife Friendly Campus' innitiative that focuses on encouraging students to survey and monitor the wildlife on campus.
Opticron are pleased to support The Sussex Ornithological Society's Young Birders Scheme. The scheme aims to support young people between the age of 16 and 25 living in Sussex county that wish to develop their interest in birds. In addition to binoculars donated by Opticron, the successful applicants also receive field guides, financial help with travel and training courses and a year's membership to SOS.
Seawatch Foundation's mission is to monitor and research whales and dolphins while also engaging the public and raising awareness about the threats facing these marine mammals and the importance of protecting them. Each year, Seawatch Foundation hosts Orca Watch, a week long citizen science recording event at John O' Groats in Scotland that seeks to collect as much data as possible on Orca sightings with the publics help. We were delighted to support Seawatch Foundation by donating the Savanna R PC 8x33 as a prize for the Orca Watch raffle.
Opticron are proud to support Hen Harrier Day. As a sponsor for their 2024 Young Wild Photographer Competition, we provided the overall winning entry and three runners up with vouchers to purchase Opticron equipment. Congratulations to William Lambourne, Jack Brackley, Joe Dagger and Felix Hoskins! In August, we continued our support by donating the Oregon 4 PC Oasis 8x32 as a raffle prize at the Action for Wildlife event hosted by Hen Harrier Day and other conservation charities such as Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.
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'From the 9-11th February 2024, Curlew Action hosted the largest ever conference for Curlew fieldworkers. Over 100 practical Curlew conservationists from across the UK, Ireland, France, Finland, The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Poland came together to exchange views and experiences.' We were delighted to support Curlew Action's important work by donating a Discovery WA ED 8x32 binocular as a prize for their conference raffle.
In 2024, we continued our long-standing support as a sponsor for the BCN Wildlife Trust's Photography Competition. Each of the three category winners received £130 worth of Opticron equipment of their choice. Congratulations to Dave Wesson ('Flora and fauna' category and overall winner), Jana Barbosa ('People & Nature' category winner) and Dexter Ferguson ('Youth' category winner).
In support of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), Opticron donated the Discovery WA ED 8x32 binocular for the 2024 BIAZA Bird Working Group Conference hosted at Drayton Manor Zoo. The raffle funds collected at this year's conference helped support the charity Raptor Aid.
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Opticron are proud to provide equipment for the School Bird Boat Project run by Birds of Poole Harbour in collaboration with LUSH. Each winter, the initiative takes around 1000 school children out on boats to experience the birds of Poole Harbour. This year we continued our support by donating binoculars to the project to allow each child on board the opportunity to appreciate birds such as the White-tailed Eagle up close and gain a more immersive experience. .png)
With roots spanning more than a decade, the Spurn Migration Festival has become one of the most important dates in the UK birding calendar. Each year our friends at Migfest host the Martin Garner Spurn Young Birder, a competition that highlights and celebrates the skills and dedication shown by young birders. This year we were delighted to provide the prize of a pair of binoculars for the Junior Under 13's category.
At this year's Global Birdfair, we teamed up with the birdwatching app, Birda by providing the prize for their Global Birdfair challenge. The challenge encourages visitors at the event to log their bird sightings in the app with all entrants being entered into a prize draw. Congratulations to Beau Healey who received the Opticron Natura BGA ED 8x42 binocular!
30 Days Wild is an annual campaign run by The Wildlife Trusts. The aim of the campaign is to get more people to go outdoors and connect with nature. To encourage people to get involved, The Warwickshire Wildlife Trust ran a nature-themed bingo challenge. All entrants were entered into a giveaway, with one winner receiving a Wildlife Trust branded pair of Oregon 4 PC Oasis 8x32 binoculars.
The University of Nottingham hosts a Nature and Conservation Society to engage students with local wildlife. Opticron provided support for the society by donating a range of binoculars to help students survey birds and other wildlife on campus and at local nature reserves.
This year we have continued our support for Cumbria and Lakeland Walker Magazine by sponsoring their annual photography competition. Each month one photograph is selected to be printed within the magazine and then shortlisted for the overall prize at the end of the year. Congratulations to the overall winner for 2024, Trevor Earthy who won Opticron equipment up to the value of £350.
Located on an island in North Kent, Elmley is a nature reserve and family-run farm with a focus on restoring both nature and its historical heritage. The site is home to an array of incredible species such as Short-eared Owls, Curlew and Brown Hares. Opticron are delighted to have teamed up with Elmley to provide a scope and binoculars for their educational groups.