Dr. Trevor Tween gained his PhD on Nudibranchs, or sea slugs but dedicated his career to wildlife in Luton, far from the marine environment.

He joined the Manpower Services Scheme-administered, Luton & Dunstable Urban Wildlife Project, a southern offshoot of the then Beds & Hunts Wildlife Trust in 1987, to co-ordinate the detailed habitat survey of the urban environment of Luton and Dunstable.  Larger sites were already known of but the survey identified many smaller sites that Trevor would later go on to champion when he moved to Luton Borough Council, initially as Warden of the Galley & Warden Hills Local Nature Reserve in, 1990.

Whilst at the Urban Wildlife Project, Trevor also initiated the first Green Festival in the Luton, bringing together many voluntary and statutory organisations with links to the environment for the public to learn about the importance of the local countryside.

Becoming involved with the fledgling Luton & Dunstable Conservation Volunteers in the mid 1980’s, allowed an interest in site management to develop and to gain knowledge and experience of what is needed to maintain sites with significant wildlife interest.  This connection with LDCV continued throughout his entire career as Honorary Chairman of the group, identifying and delivering much needed management on sites in and around Luton, Dunstable, Houghton Regis and further afield, including Wildlife Trust nature reserves at Flitwick Moor and Cooper’s Hill.  To compliment this practical work, Trevor led walks in the spring and summer to show the rewards of volunteer efforts.  Some planned walks could take participants deep into the countryside, where his knowledge of both natural history and social history of a site or area would result in all-day events.

Upon joining Luton Borough Council, Trevor maintained his links with the Wildlife Trust, initially giving contracts for small-scale work on LBC sites.  And, as his role broadened into a borough-wide ecologist, this allowed those sites identified in the habitat survey of the town to become better known within the borough and ultimately better protected.  Keen to continue the link with the Trust, Trevor sought a partnership, resulting in a Service Level Agreement to deliver outputs on a number of LBC sites.  An additional agreement and funding came about through involvement with the Luton - Dunstable Guided Busway, of which he was a key member of the Advisory Group.

Sitting on the County Wildlife Site panel, Trevor initiated the development of District Wildlife Sites, to provide better protection for lesser-known but still important land in a town that was looking at its housing needs.  Indeed, Trevor was as passionate about the smaller sites, as he was about Sites of Special Scientific Interest.  Ultimately, his detailed knowledge led to 2 additional sites in Luton being given SSSI status and contributed to him being rewarded with the British Empire Medal in the King’s birthday honours list in June 2023.  A fitting reward for his true dedication to the town of Luton and its natural environment.

Written by Andy Fleckney, Senior Reserves Officer (Bedfordshire), The Wildlife Trust.