[C]umbria Wildlife Trust’s top accolade, a Gold Badger’s Paw Award, has been presented to eight longstanding volunteers.
Every year a select group of Cumbria’s top conservation volunteers are chosen by Cumbria’s wildlife charity to receive the special award to thank them for their many years of hard work in helping and raising awareness of wildlife.
Bill Grayson, from Milnthorpe, was chosen for his commitment to conservation grazing, a method of raising cattle that benefits wildlife as well as producing excellent quality beef. Kendal residents Geoff Hetherington, Chris Lumb, Rachel Nutman and Jane Petley-Jones were also selected for the award. Mr Hetherington has been honoured for his longstanding work to conserve red squirrels, Rachel Nutman received the award for practical conservation work on nature reserves and the surveying of trees and Jane Petley-Jones for her longstanding commitment to Howe Ridding Wood Nature Reserve and the conservation of butterflies.
Mr Rogers was chosen for his commitment to volunteering, in particular practical conservation restoration work at Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Eycott Hill Nature Reserve, between Keswick and Penrith, where he has helped to plant trees and restore hedgerows. He also helps look after habitats at Gosling Sike, Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s northern base near Carlisle.
Mrs Cornah was chosen for her commitment to running Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Duddon Valley Local Support Group, which hosts events around the year for Trust members and the public such as a walk to hear the birds singing at dawn in Broughton and a talk in Millom on disappearing swifts.
Mr Steele was chosen for raising awareness of wildlife through amazing wildlife audio-visual presentations on topics such as a nostalgic look back at our countryside through the ages. Mrs Abbot was selected for her commitment to Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s West Coast Local Support Group, a volunteer group which organises events such as local wildlife walks and talks on topics such as the Irish Sea.
The longstanding volunteers were honoured with a Gold Badger’s Paw Award at Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Annual Conference, held at Newton Rigg College on Friday (13 October).
Peter Bullard, Director of Cumbria Wildlife Trust, paid tribute to their outstanding work, saying: “It is amazing how many people work so hard for Cumbria Wildlife Trust, in so many different ways, and for free. We are incredibly grateful to them all.”
Chris Abbot, Chris Lumb and Andrew Read have also been selected for the award but were unable to attend the presentation. Chris Abbot, from Rowrah, was given the award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the conservation of wildlife in West Cumbria, Chris Lumb, from Kendal, for his longstanding commitment to marine conservation and Andrew Read, from Broughton-in-Furness, for his work in running the Duddon Local Support Group and volunteering on the Trust’s Development Group.
To find out more about volunteering at Cumbria Wildlife Trust, go to www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk and search under How You Can Help.
