University of East Anglia, Norwich
Although many local people had helped me to start the conservation ball rolling, things really started to develop when two female students from UEA came out with the Group in 1993. They were very enthusiastic about Buxton Heath and the Group, and this led to them spreading the word at the university.
Gradually, we were joined by many more students, and it was obvious that car transport was no longer an adequate method of getting people to the site. It was then that the voluntary warden undertook the minibus driver's course with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV), and with funding from Norfolk Wildlife Trust and English Nature, the Group really went from strength to strength.
Since its formation in May 1992, Buxton Heath Wildlife Group has included in its ranks students from all over Britain, and almost 30 other nationalities. These include such far-flung places as Bolivia, Canada, USA, Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong, Finland, Germany, and Zimbabwe.
Over the years, I gave many illustrated talks at the UEA about the wildlife and habitats of Buxton Heath, and the associated management work. As a result of this, many students chose Buxton Heath as their course topic.
Although many local people had helped me to start the conservation ball rolling, things really started to develop when two female students from UEA came out with the Group in 1993. They were very enthusiastic about Buxton Heath and the Group, and this led to them spreading the word at the university.
Gradually, we were joined by many more students, and it was obvious that car transport was no longer an adequate method of getting people to the site. It was then that the voluntary warden undertook the minibus driver's course with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV), and with funding from Norfolk Wildlife Trust and English Nature, the Group really went from strength to strength.
Since its formation in May 1992, Buxton Heath Wildlife Group has included in its ranks students from all over Britain, and almost 30 other nationalities. These include such far-flung places as Bolivia, Canada, USA, Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong, Finland, Germany, and Zimbabwe.
Over the years, I gave many illustrated talks at the UEA about the wildlife and habitats of Buxton Heath, and the associated management work. As a result of this, many students chose Buxton Heath as their course topic.
Colin Penny, for once in collar and tie as opposed to the army surplus used at BH, after a talk at a UEA lecture hall - 24th October 2001
The ladies are: Michelle Margot, Katherine Boughey, Sam Cartwright, Anna Robinson, Helen "Red" Greaves, Sally Firth, Claire Butler, and Elizabeth Daly.
There were some boys there too - promise ! But they headed for the bar immediately after the talk, leaving the girls to help me with all the equipment - typical !
+ + + + +
As I write this piece in December 2013, the BHWG-UEA connection still holds good, with the current voluntary warden, Phil Davison, still collecting bus-loads of enthusiastic students and taking them to Buxton Heath for a day to remember.
The ladies are: Michelle Margot, Katherine Boughey, Sam Cartwright, Anna Robinson, Helen "Red" Greaves, Sally Firth, Claire Butler, and Elizabeth Daly.
There were some boys there too - promise ! But they headed for the bar immediately after the talk, leaving the girls to help me with all the equipment - typical !
+ + + + +
As I write this piece in December 2013, the BHWG-UEA connection still holds good, with the current voluntary warden, Phil Davison, still collecting bus-loads of enthusiastic students and taking them to Buxton Heath for a day to remember.