Volunteer of the Year award for Bucks wildlife enthusiast

Mick Jones from Mursley in north Buckinghamshire received the Volunteer of the Year award from the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust in recognition of more than 30 years of wildlife conservation work on the Dancersend nature reserve near Wendover.

For more than 30 years, Mick has carried out a variety of roles in a voluntary capacity including: butterfly and plant surveying, leading work parties clearing woodland and scrub, leading walks and training events, giving talks to local groups and, most recently, pioneering an innovative chalk grassland restoration project.

The award was presented to Mick Jones at the Wildlife Trust’s AGM and conference on 19 October. He commented: “It seems very odd to get an award for doing something you love doing in one of the most beautiful places in the Chilterns – especially now I’m retired and can easily spare the time. Had I been asked, I would have suggested giving it to some of the younger people who come out to help me with management tasks each month. It’s them we need to encourage now.”

Mark Vallance, Buckinghamshire reserves manager, paid tribute to Mick and his work at Dancersend. “Mick probably knows more about this very important wildlife site than anyone else except the late Miriam Rothschild, whose family used to own the reserve. Not only is he involved on a practical level, Mick has encouraged neighbouring land owners to manage their chalk grassland for wildlife, and create more habitats for butterflies of the Chilterns chalk downland.”