Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust celebrates contribution of former Chairman
Wednesday 12th July
Despite the heavens opening just as official proceedings got underway, the rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of guests, including the Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire Sir John Peace, Rushcliffe MP The Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC, former Environment Minister Lord Deben, Nottinghamshire County Council Leader Cllr Kay Cutts, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust President Sir Andrew Buchanan and Stephanie Hilborne, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts. All gathered at Skylarks Nature Reserve to mark the contribution made to the work of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust by its former Chairman Martin Suthers.
Mr Suthers, who died last year, was a member of the Trust for 37 years, served as Chairman between 2004 and 2009 and was the charity’s Honorary Secretary for 26 years. A lawyer by profession Martin was involved in the conveyancing linked to the majority of the Trust’s nature reserves across the county and had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the Trust’s history.
His involvement with the Trust was borne out of a life-long passion for birdwatching, which he spent many hours doing across the county with a particular passion for the area around Holme Pierrepont close to the Bingham Ward he represented on Nottinghamshire County Council until his death.
Mr Suthers’ contribution to the Wildlife Trust was marked with the dedication of an extensive area of meadow in his name. The Skylarks Nature Reserve was chosen due to his commitment to efforts to extend the reserve, off Adbolton Lane.
Guests heard tributes to Martin from Sir John Peace and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Chairman Dr Ian Johnston as well as very personal contributions from Kenneth Clarke and Lord Deben who were life-long personal friends.
Speaking after the event, which was followed by a reception at Holme Pierrepont Hall, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Chairman Ian Johnston said: “We wanted to do something special to mark Martin’s outstanding contribution to the work of the Trust and the dedication of a meadow at our Skylarks Nature Reserve seemed most fitting. Martin spent a lot of time birdwatching in the area, often with his close friend Kenneth Clarke. Martin was also very much involved in our efforts to extend the reserve back in 2014. We were delighted to welcome guests from across the country to celebrate his contribution and to remember a special colleague and friend.”
A plaque dedicating the meadow in Martin’s name was unveiled by the Kenneth Clarke.
