The Old Ragged School, Brook Street, Nottingham, NG1 1EA

Nottinghamshire

Wildlife Trust

The Old Ragged School, Brook Street, Nottingham, NG1 1EA

Tel: 0115 958 8242 Fax: 0115 924 3175 Email:

News Release

Towergate Press Release-Oct 2015

15-Oct-15 Page 1 of 2

Towergate’s support tothe Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust improves access to local nature reserve for wheelchair users

Towergate are the UK's leading independently owned insurance intermediary, employing around 5,300 people across 150 locations.

As part of its “Making Tracks at Besthorpe” project Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is currently working to improve access at its Besthorpe nature reserve which is located alongside the River Trent north of Newark on Trent.

Towergate have funded a new “Radar gate” that will facilitate better access for wheelchair users. On October 8th2015 a group of six staff from the Towergate Leicester office which services clients in Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Lincolnshire, will work alongside Trust staff and other volunteers to improve the look and “feel”of the entrance to the Besthorpe Nature Reserve by installingthe new improved access gate along with a new vehicle gate and additional fencing.

A “Radar gate” normally functions to allow access for pedestrians but by unlocking a special padlock with a Radar key allows the gate to be opened further thus allowing for access for large and motorized wheelchairs. The Radar Key Scheme is a national scheme which wasoriginally develop to enable access toilets for disabled persons but has been extendedto control other access requirements. These gates have been installed at the Trust’s newest reserve, Skylarks and the Trust is actively looking at improving access to its reserves for wheelchair users.

Kenny Robinson, Towergate’s Sales Director for the area stated: “we have recently been through a fair amount of change at Towergate and, as such, have not been as involved in our local communities as we would like to be and have historically been. Our work with charity is a huge part of who we are - its part of our DNA. Towergate has given an incredible amount of money to charity since 2005 - over £9.5 million. This demonstrates the type of committed and passionate people we have working for us, and want to attract in the future to work here. And now we want to do even more. Towergate provides general and specialist local insurance in communities – and we want to make a difference to those communities. Out of our Leicester office we want to support at least 4 initiatives a year, one in each of our area counties.”

Chris Kennedy, the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s Southern Reserves Officer commented “the site lends itself really well for improved ambulant disabled access; this new gate funded by Towergate will be the start of improved access to views across the mons pool part of the nature reserve which has previously been inaccessibly for ambulant disabled access. A new wildlife viewing screen at the end of the new footpath will allow visitors regular glances of kingfishers, little egrets and waders and mammals such as deer.”

Notes for Editors

1. The Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, a registered charity, manages 66 Nature Reserves throughout the county of Nottinghamshire. It advises local authorities, community groups and landowners on nature conservation issues, and makes a major input into decision-making on planning matters and other issues.

2. The Trust is part of a nation-wide network of local Trusts which work to protect wildlife in town and country - The Wildlife Trusts. The Wildlife Trusts now boast almost 800,000. For more information please see our website:

3. For more information about Besthorpe Nature reserve which is managed by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust:

4. Towergate is an entrepreneurial insurance specialist, led by people with a reputation for innovation and professionalism. Your local office will be pleased to talk to you

5. For more information contact:Kenny Robinson: Email or telephone 07766072143.

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