Chris Packham presents life-time membership to volunteers who have given 54 years of service to conservation charity.

On Saturday 26 June, Chris Packham, will be hot footing it down from Springwatch to Essex Wildlife Trust’s Annual Meeting to present life-time membership of Essex Wildlife Trust to two of its most hard-wording and diligent supporters.

Ray Tabor and Bob Hills between them have supported and volunteered for Essex Wildlife Trust for over 54 years! They have worked tirelessly for Essex Wildlife Trust and have always contributed above and beyond. Ray Tabor was Chairman of the Board of Trustees for many years, while Bob Hills has been Treasurer of Essex Wildlife Trust for the past 9 years. Both have held positions of extreme responsibility and have been very active Trustees before their roles as Chairman and Hon. Treasurer respectively.

However, their roles have not just been regarding the business side of the conservation charity. Both have a keen interest in wildlife and have somehow managed to fit in managing a nature reserve each. Ray Tabor is warden of Shadwell Wood, an ancient woodland of 17 acres and has almost single handedly been responsible for protecting and increasing the number of Oxlips within Essex. While Bob Hills has been warden of Fobbing marsh for many years.

Nearly 500 members have accepted their invitations to the Annual Members meeting, where Chris Packham, who has just finished Springwatch is to be the guest speaker!

Essex Wildlife Trust is really looking forward to Chris Packham’s talk, as he is a enthusiastic wildlife ambassador and is extremely entertaining. The Trust are very grateful to Ellisons Solicitors and Epping Forest Burial Park for providing sponsorship to enable Chris to be the guest speaker.

John Hall, Director, Essex Wildlife Trust said:

“We are extremely grateful to Ellisons Solicitors and Epping Forest Burial Park for sponsoring our guest speaker, Chris Packham. I am sure that it will be a lively and interesting talk. We are also going to acknowledge two stalwarts of the Trust who have held really important positions and have volunteered with Essex Wildlife Trust for over 50 years!”