Two long-serving volunteers have been recognised for more than six decades of combined service to wildlife conservation at the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) 2025 Volunteer Awards.
Tony Chandler and Rodney Sims received Lifetime Achievement Awards for their tireless work at flagship nature reserves across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. The event also saw the presentation of three Outstanding Contribution Awards, three Group Awards, and two Wilder Future Awards celebrating young volunteers under 26.
Tony Chandler has been a fixture at Warburg Nature Reserve near Henley for more than 20 years, volunteering every Tuesday since 2002. He has played a key role in developing the reserve’s charcoal production, and has shared his knowledge in traditional conservation skills such as coppicing, hedge laying and scything.
BBOWT President and wildlife presenter Steve Backshall praised Warburg as “a great place to inspire people of all ages, with mystical woodlands and flower-filled meadows.” Tony’s humour, creativity and dedication have helped shape the reserve into the thriving wildlife haven it is today.
Rodney Sims, who began volunteering in the 1980s, was instrumental in the creation of College Lake Nature Reserve in Tring, working alongside founder Graham Atkins. From digging ditches and seeding meadows to fundraising and community engagement, Rodney’s contribution was pivotal.
With a lifelong interest in geology, he also collaborated with Bucks Museum on fossil discoveries, including exposing Ice Age geological features. Now 91, he only recently stepped back from volunteering — and would still be active if not for a recent injury.
Among the Wilder Future Award winners were Rose Addenbrooke, who supports art-based community sessions at Boundary Brook Nature Reserve, and Amelie Hazelton, a young environmentalist who volunteers with BBOWT’s Rangers sessions and provides care for injured bats while championing sustainability at school.
Outstanding Contribution Awards went to Charlotte Karmali, Pam Lloyd, and Linda and Chris Wells for their exceptional service across multiple nature reserves, conservation projects, and volunteer teams.
Group awards recognised Friends of Blenheim Farm, Friends of the Earth Newbury, and Wild Banbury for their transformative community-led conservation projects that have enhanced wildlife corridors and biodiversity across the region.
With more than 1,700 volunteers now supporting its mission, BBOWT credits their efforts as the backbone of its conservation success.
Laura Rushby, Head of Volunteering at BBOWT, said:
“Our heartfelt congratulations to all of this year’s amazing award winners, and to everyone who was nominated. It is a privilege to celebrate the remarkable contributions of volunteers across our three counties, who help protect and restore nature for the future while supporting their local communities. Their generosity, passion and commitment continue to inspire us every day.”
Together, these volunteers represent the spirit of BBOWT’s mission – creating more nature everywhere, for everyone.
