Woodland Trust Northern Ireland
889. Peter Lyons
Peter Lyons, from Bangor, County Down, has been instrumental to the ‘Woodland Trust’ in expanding their work across Northern Ireland.
After first getting involved at his local reserve of Kilcooley Wood as a warden responsible for maintaining the site, Peter was instrumental in transforming the land into a space where people from the local community could engage with the environment and learn about sustainability through the guided walks he provides. He now offers support for the ‘Woodland Trust’ across all of Northern Ireland’s 50 woods, providing advice to landowners on conservation management and giving regular talks to members of the public about the importance of trees and woodland.
In a personal letter to Peter, Prime Minister Theresa May said:
“Your dedicated support of woodland areas across Northern Ireland has been vital in improving sustainability in your local environment and is a testament to your remarkable commitment and expertise. By giving talks on conservation and offering guided walks of nature reserves, you are encouraging hundreds of people to appreciate the natural beauty of the ‘Woodland Trust’ sites across the country.”
Patrick Cregg, director of the ‘Woodland Trust’ in Northern Ireland, said:
“A heartfelt thank you to Peter for his tremendous support. He has helped us tirelessly for years – from helping with events, tree planting, giving talks to groups, taking photos and more. The list is endless. We’re a relatively small team here in Northern Ireland and very much rely upon the support of our volunteers. We hope that, through Peter’s example, others might be encouraged to volunteer with us.
“This is a wonderful accolade for such a selfless gentleman, who is held in high esteem by all at the Woodland Trust.”
Peter said:
“I am both delighted and honoured to be recognised through the Prime Minister’s Points of Light award. In fact I can honestly say that it’s the highest honour ever bestowed upon me.
“I’ve been volunteering my services to a number of organisations for decades, becoming deeply involved with conservation charity the ‘Woodland Trust’ since 2002. I’ve a genuine interest in the environment, and am delighted that – through my time and efforts – I can really make a difference.
“It’s wonderful to be recognised in such a way and this is a truly positive start to the New Year – thank you!”
The Woodland Trust is the largest woodland conservation charity in the UK. It has over 500,000 supporters. It wants to see a UK rich in native woods and trees, for people and wildlife. Find out more about the work of the Woodland Trust in Northern Ireland, and across the UK.