Walks with Hugh were an education

With great sadness, we must announce the passing of Hugh Sloan, one of our longest standing volunteers.

As an ex-geography and geology teacher to A level, the Welcome Centre was the perfect role for Hugh to share his extensive knowledge of the site and also his love of geography and geology with those visitors that wanted to know a little more.

Many of our staff, members, visitors and volunteers will have met Hugh, spoken to him when visiting or worked or volunteered alongside him at Brockholes.

Hugh joined us at Brockholes in the January of 2011, as part of the initial round of volunteer recruitment ready for when Brockholes opened in April 2011. He signed up alongside his wife Pam, and they have both been with us ever since.

Hugh has done a number of volunteering roles at Brockholes over the years including volunteering in our office on administrative tasks, stewarding the car park and leading guided walks, but it was the Visitor Engagement role in the Welcome Centre that he settled on.

Pam and Hugh have been volunteering together on our busy Sunday afternoon slot for many years.

Hugh was the deputy head at a large secondary school for many years. He went on to lecture at Edge Hill University and was involved in the Education Masters course. He often led specialist guided walks on geographical topics for visiting universities.

He was still out on the reserve in late March, with Pam, doing what he loved, leading a field trip of geography students from Edge Hill.

Hugh died peacefully from cancer in May in Chorley Hospital. Our thoughts are with Pam and their family.

Civic reception for environmental volunteers

As part of the official celebrations for the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, the Chair of Lancashire County Council, County Councillor Peter Britcliffe, hosted a Big Coronation Tea at County Hall in Preston.

In recognition of His Majesty having championed environmental issues throughout his life, people who have worked voluntarily on environmental projects throughout Lancashire were invited through the organisations where they volunteer.

I was honoured to be one of the six volunteers from LWT invited to attend to represent our large, diverse and dedicated team of volunteers. It was quite challenging actually going to the Reception. Driving across Preston is not an experience that I enjoy.

I’d never been to County Hall before and was unsure what was going to happen or if there would be anyone else that I recognised.

It also felt quite daunting to be representing the Trust and fellow volunteers. However, as soon as I stepped out of the lift, I was put at ease by a warm welcome from hosts. The reception room was decked out in red, white and blue and tea, coffee and wine was on hand. I immediately saw a familiar face, another volunteer from Brockholes, so all was well. It was impressive to see the range of people who voluntarily work together to address the environment and conservation issues that affect our communities.

I enjoyed hearing about other people’s experiences from litter picking to wildlife rescue and realise the huge level of commitment from volunteers across the county.

The formal welcome and address acknowledged the impact volunteers make in our local communities and appreciation of our contributions. It reminded me that my contribution in LWT is valuable for others and a real benefit to nature as well as fulfilling for myself. This was further illustrated in a talk about natural flood management and the role of volunteers on the Wyre from Thomas Myerscough, a general manager from Wyre Rivers Trust.

We had a lovely buffet tea and an opportunity to speak with councillors and officers. It was a relaxed and enjoyable celebration of His Majesty’s Coronation but, primarily a civic “thank you” to all volunteers who, quietly and diligently, work to benefit nature across Lancashire.

Jess Byrne, Nature & Wellbeing Volunteer