| The achievements of wildlife volunteers have been celebrated with the presentation of this year’s Volunteer Awards by Dorset Wildlife Trust. The awards, initiated in 2008 by the late Helen Brotherton, Chairman of DWT, highlight the importance of volunteering in wildlife conservation and are given to volunteers who have made an outstanding contribution over the year.
Julian Wroe, recipient of The Helen Brotherton Award for Volunteering, was nominated by the wardens on DWT’s Brownsea Island nature reserve. Julian, who started volunteering on the island with Streetscene, the Drug and Alcohol rehabilitation programme, soon became an essential part of the team working on every aspect of practical reserve management and leading groups of other volunteers in work parties.
Helping turn lives around
Chris Thain, Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Reserve Manager on Brownsea Island, said: “We have become almost dependent on Julian's help with all practical projects, including gravelling and fencing tern islands, deer fencing and woodland management. The journey that he has taken is a fantastic example of what volunteering can do to help people turn their lives around.”
The recipients of the Group Award for Volunteering 2011 are the Conservation Group from Richmond Fellowship, a mental health charity. The group of around 8 volunteers works every week on DWT reserves, ready to tackle a wide variety of jobs with enjoyment and willing to work wherever they are needed. They too have found the fresh air, hard work and growing confidence a great help for coping with mental illness. Amanda Broom, Conservation Officer at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “Not only is their commitment exemplary but it's also a great example of partnership working with everyone benefitting this is an awesome bunch!”
Citations were also awarded to west Dorset volunteers Paddy Sherlock, who has been volunteering at the Kingcombe Centre for over 20 years, Ross Thompson, who volunteers regularly on the west Dorset reserves, including Kingcombe Meadows and the Pastures New Volunteers, who work on grassland restoration in west Dorset.
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Notes to Editor
For more information please contact Steve Davis at Dorset Wildlife Trust on 01202 642788.
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About Dorset Wildlife Trust www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk
Working for a secure future for Dorset’s wildlife enriching the quality of life
Dorset Wildlife Trust works to champion wildlife and natural places, to engage and inspire people and to promote sustainable living. Founded in 1961, DWT is now the largest voluntary nature conservation organisation in Dorset, with over 25,000 members and over 40 nature reserves. Most are open daily and there are visitor centres providing a wealth of wildlife information at Brooklands Farm, Lorton Meadows, Kingcombe Meadows and Brownsea Island Nature Reserves, The Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve and the Urban Wildlife Centre at Upton Heath Nature Reserve. DWT plays a key role in dealing with local environmental issues and leads the way in establishing the practices of sustainable development and engaging new audiences in conservation, particularly in the urban areas.
Blog /wildlife-matters-blog.html
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Tony Bates presents the Helen Brotherton Award for Volunteering to Julian Wroe.
Photo by Nicky Hoar
The Richmond Fellowship celebrate the Group Award for Volunteering. Left to right, from back: Jo Symes, Neil Gibson, Paul Farnell, Scott Cahill, Doug Low, Wendy Edmead, Joe Carter. Front row: Nikkii Hesketh Roberts (DWT), Russell Perry, Gary Moore, Mark Brown and Amanda Broom (DWT).
Photo by Nicky Hoar
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