A VALE pensioner who has spent more than 50 years volunteering for nature charity in Worcestershire has been honoured with the planting of dozens of trees.
Harry Green MBE, who stepped down from being a trustee of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust last autumn after serving for 56 years, had 56 trees planted in his name on February 4.
Harry, who lives in Little Comberton has been involved with the trust since its inception in 1968 and was elected to the trust’s governing council in 1969.
Harry plant a tree. Picture by Brian Taylor
To celebrate his retirement, the trust planted 46 trees at his local nature reserve, Tiddesley Wood, and 10 in the adjacent Stocken Orchard, the latter owned by Vale Landscape Heritage Trust, a charity that Harry was a founding member of.
Mike Perry, chief executive officer, said: “Harry is one of the finest naturalists that we’ve ever had in Worcestershire and we were delighted to mark the occasion of his retirement as a trustee after an extraordinary 56 years.
He added that for many years the trust was run wholly by volunteers and they have played an integral part of the development and operations ever since.
“Harry has been involved in so much, from directing our conservation work to fundraising initiatives and much more.
“We were pleased that so many of his friends, colleagues and collaborators from over the years were able to join us on such a beautiful sunny day.”
More than 70 people attended the tree planting including staff and volunteers, past and present, as well as family and friends.
Harry with family, friends and colleagues. Picture by Brian Taylor
Harry, who thoroughly enjoyed his ‘lovely’ day, added: “Over the years I’ve met some remarkable people who have done remarkable things and it was so nice to see them again, some of whom I’d not seen for a long time.
“One of the most amazing things of the last 50 or 60 years is just how many friendships I’ve made by being part of this incredible network of passionate and dedicated people.
“Seeing so many friends and collaborators just brought it all into perspective – people have been the driving force of our work and our success.
“I’d like to thank the organisers, everyone who came and planted trees on the day; it was a very moving experience.”
In 2000, Harry was awarded an MBE for services to Worcestershire’s wildlife and received the Christopher Cadbury Medal in 2008 for services to the advancement of nature conservation in the UK.
Harry has also been chair of the British Trust for Ornithology, a trustee of Vale Landscape Heritage Trust and was a founder of Worcestershire Biological Records Centre.
