This morning I was lucky enough to have a sample tasting of the RSPB's newest offering. Fudge.
Not just any fudge. This is RSPB Love Nature Fudge. Just like our Love nature chocolate, it is organic and ethically made. Also, like the chocolate, it is palm oil free. And it is simply delicious - or wickedly tasty as the packaging says. It is also made in the UK - hand made in Devon, using Devon cream and butter. There's three flavours to choose from - vanilla, clotted cream, and chocolate.
Now I must admit to having a liking for fudge. it's the sweet tooth you see. And this is fudge that I can eat without any guilt (but don't tell my dentist.) Why? Because it contains no palm oil.
Palm oil is found in a huge variety of products, from soap to chocolate. It's often labelled simply as vegetable oil and is one of the main causes of rainforest destruction - and consequently climate change. Huge swathes of rainforests have been felled to be replaced by monocultures of oil palms, leading to the loss of thouasnads of plants and animals, many of which have not even been described yet. By felling the original forests, the underlying peat is often exposed, leading to greater erosion and an increase in carbon dioxide emissions. It's this conversion of forest to oil palm that makes Indonesia one of the world's bigger producers of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Fortunately, the RSPB is stepping up for nature by continuing to source palm oil free products wherever possible. It's not just our fudge and chocolates either, as the Skinny Dipper range of soaps is also palm oil free.
We stepping up for rainforest wildlife in another way too. The RSPB recently acquired the rights to a huge area of lowland rainforest in Sumatra known as Harapan Forest. We are working with Indonesian conservation organisations and local people to help to protect this area, which is important for Sumatran Tigers, rhinoceros hornbills and much more.
Of course, you'll want to know how much this gorgoeus fudge costs. A 150g packet costs £2.99, or 300g costs £4.99. That's considerably cheaper than the Belgian chocolates I bought in Bruges last week, just as tasty, and much better for the environment.
If you're lucky, we'll have a tasting session when you visit too. It's a great alternative to a chocolate egg this Easter.
Your birds shouldn't feel left out either. We have an excellent half price offer on 500g bird cake. All three "flavours" - with raisins, with meal worms and with insects, will cost just £1.74 until 3 May. Hurray along to Minsmere for a bargin. Just don't get the two mixed up!