Chief Executive of Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Brendan Joyce has been awarded the Christopher Cadbury medal for his outstanding contribution to nature conservation.
This prestigious award from The Wildlife Trusts was presented by The Wildlife Trusts’ Vice Presidents, Professor Chris Baines, one of the UK's leading independent environmentalists, at The Wildlife Trusts’ Annual General Meeting in Grantham on Wednesday 23 November. Ron Hill, former Chair of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, was also awarded.
Stephanie Hilborne OBE, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said: “Dedicated and passionate individuals are the lifeblood of The Wildlife Trusts today, as they were a century ago when the movement was founded by naturalist and banker Charles Rothschild. The people and wildlife of Norfolk and Warwickshire have much to thank Brendan and Ron for. As do we all.”
Brendan’s role as Chief Executive of Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) began in 1995. He has overseen the expansion and restoration of some of Norfolk’s most iconic landscapes. In the Broads, NWT is creating 3,000 hectares of floodplain grazing marsh and fen for wildlife, following land acquisitions adjacent to its Upton Broad nature reserve. Under Brendan’s guidance, its Gaywood Valley Living Landscape scheme has also led to major progress to restore lowland heathland - a rare and threatened habitat.
One of the most significant developments for Norfolk Wildlife Trust, under Brendan’s leadership, has been the opening of the award-winning visitor centre at NWT Cley Marshes nature reserve. With its unrivalled panoramic views of the marshes, it attracts 100,000 visitors a year.
Brendan was nominated by his Chair Tim Cawkwell, who praised his boundless commitment to and passion for, the conservation of Norfolk’s wildlife. Tim said: “When Brendan came to Norfolk in 1995, the Trust was already a well-established and effective organisation. Since then he has overseen a major expansion in the numbers of staff engaged in nature conservation, in the scope of the Trust’s educational work, in the number of Trust members, and above all, in the area of Norfolk owned and managed for nature conservation.”
Brendan said: “I am deeply honoured to be given this award, which I accept not just for me, but for all the staff and volunteers of Norfolk Wildlife Trust who have achieved so much for wildlife conservation and education in Norfolk. There remains much to do in working towards our goal of creating a Living Landscape for Norfolk, but one of the biggest rewards is seeing the tangible progress we have been making.”
The Christopher Cadbury Medal for services to nature conservation was instituted in recognition of the outstanding contribution to this work and to the Royal Society for Wildlife Trusts by the late Mr J Christopher Cadbury CBE MA (President 1962-1968). Past winners include Thomas William Cain CBE and Harry Green.