Warrington man scoops top nature dedication award

A WARRINGTON man has received the highest accolade for volunteering from the region’s largest nature conservation charity, the Cheshire Wildlife Trust.
Dr Philip Brighton received his Eric Thurston Award from Cheshire Wildlife Trust at the charity’s AGM, with his commemorative wildlife print handed over by former BBC North West Tonight presenter and Trust president, Felicity Goodey CBE.
For many years Philip has dedicated his time, skills and knowledge to the Trust, along with his wife, Elspeth, supporting a number projects but in particular, the recording of wildlife and habitat changes across numerous nature reserves including Holcroft Moss, Abbots Moss and Bagmere.
A long-standing member of the charity, after years of previous involvement at Holcroft Moss, Philip became honorary reserve manager in 2006 and still devotes his time and effort to keeping non-native and invasive Himalayan balsam and birch growth at bay, along with monitoring the reserve’s flora and fauna.
Phil’s keen interest in developing his own knowledge has meant Cheshire Wildlife Trust continually benefits from ever increasingly specialist monitoring of its nature reserves and project sites.
This dedication has led to Phil discovering some of the UK’s rarest insects including a ‘Red Listed’ cranefly species at the Trust’s Bagmere nature reserve.
His nomination was put forward by staff from across the Trust, with whom Philip has worked in recent years.
The Eric Thurston Award is named after the eminent Cheshire naturalist, with the award itself being a limited edition Roger Stephens print of peregrine’s circling above Beeston Castle.
Charlotte Harris, Cheshire Wildlife Trust’s chief executive said: “This is only a small reflection of what Philip has achieved for conservation in his life; he is an inspiration to all with his commitment and enthusiasm for local conservation.
“It’s only with the support of people like him and hundreds and thousands of others across Cheshire and the UK, that our wildlife conservation movement remains in good health.
“The Wildlife Trusts and so many of our biggest conservation charities were founded, and continue to grow to this day, on a foundation of volunteers. Without people like Philip, we simply could not do what we do every day helping to protect the nature on our doorstep.”