Auction Items
Just some of the items that will be up for either Live or Silent Auction at The Earthwatch SustainaBall...
A week's stay at Kruger Park Lodge
South Africa, for up to 4 people
Be sure to pack your camera if you win this prize! A full week's self-catering accommodation in one of Kruger Park's beautiful luxury lodges. The lodges are brick under thatch, have one double (with en-suite bathroom) and two twin bedrooms. The Dining/living area is complimented by a large outside patio overlooking the Sabie River.
Kruger Park Lodge has a restaurant, and is ten minutes drive from one of the gates into the world-renowned Kruger National Park in South Africa's North East, which offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Want to see the Big Five? This could be your perfect chance!
* Prize to be taken within two years of auction date. Additional payment would be required for any house keeping services, food and drinks, and golf.
With thanks to the prize giver, who wishes to remain anonymous.
A week's stay at Coach House Cottages, Treworgey Manor
Cornwall, for up to 6 people
Take a week to leave the stresses of life behind and relax in a luxury cottage, at this beautiful resort in the peaceful heart of Cornwall.
Set in the ancient manor of Treworgey, the Coach House Cottages are approximately two miles from Liskeard, nestling in 110 acres of beautiful pasture and woodland. Paddock View, your cottage, is extremely spacious and well appointed with full heating and log fires for all year round letting. On site heated swimming pool, tennis court and games room compliment the moor and coast walking, golf and beaches close by. The cottage has a private garden, decking area with table and chairs and a BBQ. For that occasional rainy day, there is a flat screen Freeview TV with video recorder and DVD player and an extensive DVD library is held in the Manor House. The Manor House itself lies adjacent to the courtyard and, with its formal gardens and clock tower, completes this historic setting. The resort is also close to the Eden project and National Marine Aquarium, so during your stay you can enjoy the best of Cornwall and Devon. Prize includes four tickets to Theatre Royal, Plymouth, six tickets to the Eden Project and dinner for six at Barclay House, regarded as one of the best retaurants in Cornwall.
*Off-Peak season only.
Kindly donated by Jeremy & Jane Hall, Coach House Cottages, Treworgey Manor, Cornwall, PL14 6RN
A week's stay at a Dover Bay condo
Idaho for Christmas 2008 or Summer 2009, for up to 4 people
Win a week's break at a beautiful two-bedroom condominium in north Idaho's best designed waterfront community with stunning views of the Cabinet Mountains; Lake Pend Oreille in Dover Bay. The condo is just 2.5 miles from Sandpoint, Idaho and a twenty minute drive to some of the best downhill and cross country skiing in Idaho at Schweitzer ski resort.
Christmas week (Dec 20th-26th 2008) is the perfect time to enjoy peaceful, quiet solitude with lots of snow. Relax in this extremely comfortable fully furnished two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit with full kitchen, granite counter tops, washer/dryer, vaulted ceilings, wireless internet, 42' flat screen TV & over one hundred cable channels and over 40 DVDs for you and your family to enjoy. Enjoy quiet walks along over nine miles of pedestrian walking and bike trails; don't be surprised if you run into a moose or deer! Drive into nearby Sandpoint, an exciting and thriving art community and home to Coldwater Creek, to go antiquing at Foster's Crossing or catch a movie at the local alternative art house.
Should you instead choose the summer week (July 26th -August 1st 2009), you will be at home with nature as you observe and hear osprey nests less than two hundred feet from your deck. The active beaver pond from the balcony provides outstanding birding with great blue heron, barn swallows, robins, and bald eagles soaring overhead. Beavers make their home on this pond, and you're likely to see them at dusk. Enjoy a BBQ on your covered patio, take a walk or a relaxing swim, or simply enjoy the stunning sunsets from your living room with a view. Rent a boat at the marina within walking distance, golf in one of the many outstanding golf resorts, or even drive an hour north and pick wild huckleberries.
* Dates available - Dec 20th-26th 2008 or July 26th-August 1st, 2009. Condo is non-smoking. Pets are welcome.
Kindly donated by Earthwatch volunteer, Rachel Peters, Washington, USA.
A guided tour around one of the RSPB's Nature Reserves
for 4 people
Take your pick from 24 RSPB sites in the South East of England for a party of up to four people to experience a private, guided tour. This could be to enjoy the melody of a nightingale evening, the chur of a nightjar and glow worm heathland experience, the wonders of winter wetlands or the cacophony of a mid summer reedbed, the guarantee of seeing the metallic colours of a kingfisher or a visit to arguably the best bird of prey viewing site in England! Your tour will be led by an expert from the RSPB and will give you a very rare and special insight into natural Britain. Be sure to pack your binoculars!
Kindly donated by Jonathan Cook, RSPB.
Bed and Breakfast for two people
at Plas Dinas Country House, Snowdonia
Imagine a relaxing environment, beautiful grounds and a warm and friendly welcome. Imagine no more! Plas Dinas Country House offers you four-star comfort in historic surroundings.
Nestled between the Snowdonia Mountains and the Irish Sea, the idyllic setting and stunning views are not to be missed. Whether you take a stroll around our fifteen acres in the summer or sit by the roaring log fire in the drawing room on a cold winter's day, you will relax the minute you drive through the gates. Plas Dinas also welcomes dogs, so your beloved pet can enjoy the beautiful surroundings too!
The hotel's ten ensuite rooms are individually styled and reflect the historic character of the property. Each room has a flat screen digital TV, free wireless internet access, tea and coffee making facilities and complimentary bottled water. A full cooked Welsh breakfast is also included.
Kindly donated by Andy & Julian Banner Price, Plas Dinas Country House.
A once in a lifetime trip to Samburu, Kenya
with Earthwatch Directors - Nigel Winser and Professor Nick Oguge
A fabulous opportunity for 2 people to join Executive Director of Earthwatch Europe, Nigel Winser, and Director of Earthwatch Kenya, Professor Nick Oguge, on a once in a lifetime, behind the scenes look at our work in Samburu, Kenya.
You will be met by the two directors at Samburu and will be their very special guests for 5 days and 5 nights. This will be a special working trip and you will see first hand the development of new research opportunities as part of our long term commitment in the Northern Area of Kenya. On the trip you will meet and work with Earthwatch scientists, join Earthwatch volunteers in their field work on one of the Earthwatch Samburu expeditions, spend time living and of course, as ever, dancing with the Samburu communities, visit the village of Wamba at the scenic foothills of the Mathews Range, and spend 2 nights under the stars, camping by the Ewaso Nyiro River. Immerse yourselves in the life and culture of the Samburu, experience a side of Kenya that most tourists miss, and take home priceless memories.
Prize to be taken in 2009, dates to be confirmed with Earthwatch. Prize includes all travel, accommodation and food from your arrival in Samburu. Prize does not include return travel to Samburu, travel insurance or vaccinations. Earthwatch will be on hand to help you arrange your travel to Samburu.
All proceeds from this lot will be used directly to support our work in the Samburu region of Kenya.
With thanks to Nigel Winser, Nick Oguge and Earthwatch Kenya.
A school talk on climate change
By Earthwatch's Head of Climate Change Research, Dr Dan Bebber.
Concerned about climate change? With all the news surrounding this topic these days, we're sure not many won't be, and that's why Earthwatch's Head of Climate Change Research and all round expert in this field, Dr Dan Bebber, has offered to give a talk to a school on climate change, its causes, effects and how to solve it.
Today's children will experience the results of the actions we take now. This talk, entitled Who's Afraid of Climate Change? will help bring students up to date on the latest thinking on this complex subject. We'll ask what climate change is, what causes it, whether it's a bad thing, and what we can do about stopping it or preparing for it.
This prize would be perfect for a primary, middle or secondary school, even a 6th form college, as Dr Bebber will gear the talk to the appropriate age group. Bid now and commit to educating your children about Climate Change!
Dan joined Earthwatch as Head of Climate Change Research in 2007. He is responsible for scientific research at the five global climate change field centres: UK, USA, Brazil, China and India, where the relationship between forest management and climate change will be investigated. Dan also holds a Junior Research Fellowship in Biology at St. Peter's College, The University of Oxford, where he lectures in ecology and statistics.
With thanks to Dr Dan Bebber, Earthwatch.
A beautifully framed photograph of a Sumatran tiger
One hundred years ago, Sumatra had 16 million hectares of lowland rainforest, now only 500,000 hectares remain. The RSPB and Birdlife Indonesia are starting a ground-breaking project to save and restore a 100,000 hectare area of rainforest, two-thirds the size of Greater London. It is extremely rich in wildlife, containing 235 bird species and 36 kinds of mammals including 20 Sumatran Tigers. There are only 300 of these left in the wild. This gorgeous photograph was taken on the RSPB's Harapan Rainforest Project.
Kindly donated by Jonathan Cook, RSPB.