Volunteers honoured (From Evesham Journal)

Volunteers honoured

12:00pm Thursday 2nd August 2012 in News

THE Wildlife Trusts are celebrating the centenary of the movement this year and to mark the occasion the Worcestershire branch has honoured individuals who have put in a combined 360 years’ of service.

Graham Martin, chairman of the trust’s council, said: “All our volunteers make a fantastic contribution to helping wildlife in the county, whether it’s practical conservation work at a nature reserve or answering the phone at our office.

“In 2002 we introduced an award for volunteers who make a significant contribution to the trust. This special centenary award is for those volunteers who first received the award and are still volunteering with us today.”

Earlier this year, the 13 volunteers planted local varieties of fruit trees in a new orchard.

They were presented with certificates during an afternoon of a centenary event to thank all volunteers.

The volunteers included Arthur Cundall of Pershore, reserve manager for Tunnel Hill Nature Reserve since its establishment in 1979; Terry Knight of South Littleton, manager of Windmill Mill from 1979 until recently, although he is still involved with the work there and a leading member of the Worcestershire flora project; and Lynda Reid of Pershore, the longest serving volunteer at the trust’s headquarters who has raised huge sums of money for the trust through covenants and gift aid, a valued and active member of the south-east Worcestershire group.

Mr Martin said: “Each and every volunteer is an inspiration to us all.

“Volunteering can be hard work but you only have to talk to any one of our volunteers to discover that it’s very rewarding and you get to make new friends of learn new skills.”

For more information about volunteering for the trust, visit worcsxwildlifetrust.co.

uk/volunteer.