I didn’t notice any names closely associated with nature in the New Year’s Honours list – did you?
Although the idea of ‘honours’ is ridiculous I am always pleased when some of the good guys get a gong.
I really couldn’t see any this time around – did I miss them?
Would you nominate anyone?
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I was pleased to see that Veronica Cossons, longstanding Chairman/ trustee/ President of Shropshire Wildlife Trust, and a trustee of the (national) Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, was made MBE ‘for services to Wildlife Conservation’; and that Paul Loughnane, Secretary, New Ferry Butterfly Park (a Cheshire Wildlife Trust Reserve) was awarded the BEM ‘for services to Nature Conservation on the Wirral’.
But you’re right that otherwise the list was very thin.
David – thank you for those.
Maybe many were offered but sensibly refused?
Never thought of doing that but there must be several who deserve the award,perhaps some of us ordinary people should contribute.Guess there has to be several people put the same name forward.
Mrs Josephine Jean Thorpe MBE. Founder, Ryedale Wildlife Rehabilitation. For services to Wildlife Rescue in Yorkshire. (Malton, North Yorkshire)
Well deserved.
Mud-lark – thank you.
Dr Nick Fox.
Helen Kirk received the B.E.M. on Thorne Moors from the Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, in October 2013 for her work for Conservation on Thorne Moors and Hatfield Moors. As you say Mark, the Awards were thin on the ground for Conservation, last year as well. Does this indicate how much/little this government think about our Environment and Wildlife? Would people who care about wildlife vote for such a party?
Dr Heather McHaffie Scottish Plants Officer, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh for services to the Conservation of Plants in Scotland and Guy Clarke, CITES Enforcement Team, Border Force, Home Office for services to Conservation.
I don’t like the system at all but I will give credit to Guy Clarke, a very pleasant individual and one very committed to CITES.
I know Heather and am pleased she received recognition for her work.
I’m not sure I would nominate anyone as I don’t like the system, far too many buggins turn still in the list to start with. I can however think of a number who would be worthy recipients, two very long term RSPB volunteers would top my list, a doctor and a retired YWT warden for their services to moth recording may be, along with all my friends for putting up with me!
Like the idea of honouring volunteers for orgs like the RSPB, Wildlife Trusts etc. For some sort of mix of long service and special or lasting contribution.
Re. Dennis A’s point, anyone can indeed nominate someone: https://www.gov.uk/honours
Perhaps one place to start might be Mark’s list of New Elizabethan naturalists blogged about a couple of years ago – honours for any who are still with us and who haven’t received gongs yet?
Dr Nick Fox received an OBE for his work in falconry and the conservation of birds of prey. People forget that he reared some of the first red kites released in this country and wrote the recognised paper on the New Zealand falcon. His work on the saker falcon has been exceptional. Add to this his captive breeding programme, albeit primarily for falconry, which maintains a gene pool of sakers, peregrines and gyr falcons should further releases be required. He was also instrumental in getting falconry recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. I commend his website to readers of this blog – www. falcons.co.uk . It may not universally appeal but his work is a credit to falconry and its continued role in conservation. He should receive positive acknowledgement here.