Phoenix Organics have been selling organic juice in glass bottles since 1986. As if that isn’t good enough, they go above and beyond to support conservation and environmental causes.
Earlier this year, Phoenix Organics produced a limited edition special blend of apple, blueberry and lemon organic juice with a picture of and a message to ‘save the little blue penguin’.
They contacted the Endangered Species Foundation, established in 2013 to support those working to protect rare species and nurture nature in Aotearoa and the Endangered Species Foundation chose the West Coast Penguin Trust to be a recipient of a donation from Phoenix Organics as a result of the blue penguin campaign.
Phoenix Organics has a long and proud partnership with Sustainable Coastlines, who work hard to protect beaches and waterways including working with several groups on the West Coast, and were the recipient of a Sustainable Business Award last week! The drinks company clearly cares about our natural environment and the West Coast Penguin Trust is honoured that their campaign and generous donation will help us to help blue penguins thrive on the West Coast.
It is also an honour that the Endangered Species Foundation selected our Trust. They are raising awareness of species at risk and doing all they can to give those species the best chance of survival through sustainable, long term support.
“I applaud the attention that [the Endangered Species Foundation] give to all species – not just the large charismatic birds and mammals, but also the less well known species of invertebrates, fungi, lichens, lizards, plants, amphibians, and even seaweeds. I wish them, and the species they support, all the success they deserve in this innovative project.”
– Dame Jane Goodall
Read more about the campaign here, and the donation to the Trust here from the Endangered Species Foundation.
While materials were chosen that would stand up to the harsh coastal conditions, those same coastal conditions are conducive to plant growth! Occasional checks of the fences have been carried out by volunteers and rangers so that any maintenance needs can be identified and remedied. The never-ending need for maintenance is managing the vegetation that can grow through the fence, for example gorse, blackberry and hydrangea, pushing it to breaking point in places, or flop over causing damage from the weight of rank grass, rushes and weeds such as montbretia.
Volunteers recently spent a few hours tidying up the main fence along Woodpecker Bay north of Punakaiki so a big shout out to them - thank you Fiona, Jony, Reef, Katrina, Mandy, Marty, Teresa and Deb! Flax had been pressing down on the fence, but now the fence has been freed up by these wonderful volunteers - and they picked up a fair bit of rubbish too.
Volunteer Natassja Savidge has offered to check and help maintain the Hokitika penguin protection fence and joined Ranger Lucy Waller and Manager Inger Perkins in May to inspect the length of the fence. Some minor issues were found but the main finding was the extent of the vegetation growth that was damaging the fence in places. Big thanks to Natassja!
