We would like to say a huge thank you to these amazing people for the work they do protecting wildlife on our reserves, inspiring people to love nature and recording species.
The Richenda Huxley Award recognises an outstanding contribution to any aspect of the work of the Trust.
This year we have awarded three Volunteers, Barbara Cracknell and Sian and David Johnston
Barbara Cracknell volunteering at the Great Fen
Barbara has been a Wildlife Watch volunteer for over 10 years and assists with other events for young people. For several years, she has also helped our communications team by keeping our press coverage spreadsheets and folders, and managing our image library and online events listings.
Sian and David Johnston and Sir Partha Dasgupta
Sian and David are both incredibly hardworking, loyal and reliable volunteers on reserves work parties in Bedfordshire, often volunteering 3 days a week across the county, most recently at Strawberry Hill. They have even helped with lambing in the past.
The Oliver Rackham Award recognises an individual who had demonstrated outstanding service to wildlife in our area through conservation, monitoring or research.
This year the Trustees have decided to make two awards to Charles Turner and to John Woollett.
John Woollett and Sir Partha Dasgupta
John has been the warden for Stortons Pits since it became a reserve 25 years ago, helping manage and monitor the reserve ever since. He has been one of the most active and consistent bird ringers across the Trust’s reserves, always keen to share his skills and passion with others. He is hanging up his ringing gloves and standing down as warden this year.
Sir Partha Dasgupta and Charles Turner
Charles has been a reserve warden and an active botanical recorder in Cambridgeshire for over 50 years, most notably at Gamlingay Cinques and Gamlingay Meadow. A major contributor to the county Flora, his first records date back to 1958. He is a distinguished academic botanist and quaternary geologist, having taught at Cambridge University and the Open University. Charles has also supported and nurtured many other beginning botanists throughout his long career.
The Jon Smith Award was constituted in 2017 in memory of our much loved and missed former Great Fen Restoration Officer, a passionate conservationist , and recognises volunteers who have gone the extra mile in their work for the Trust, having a significant impact on a particular aspect of the Trust’s work.
This year the Trustees decided to make two awards, to Alex Watkin-Child and Frank York.
Alex Watkin-Child and Sir Partha Dasgupta
Alex has been involved with the Wildlife Trust BCN since the start of the Young People’s Forum in early 2022. Alongside contributing to almost all Forum activities, he litter-picks in his local area, contributes to wildlife communications in the Trust by sending photos for social media and articles for newsletters, and advocates for wildlife at his school. He also finds time to play football and volunteer for a local charity that supports elderly people to look after their pets.
Frank York and Sir Partha Dasgupta
Frank volunteers at Summer Leys almost every day. He has taken the responsibility for our bird feeder station, helping people with recent sightings or other questions, and often helps us out in the visitor centre too.
