There is still important work to be done on our existing reserves to enhance those habitats and funding needed for purchases should adjoining land become available. We will use the proceeds of the appeal to continue purchasing and managing our nature reserves/ which we couldn't do without you.

Chris Dennis

Stewart Wellstead Clarke
1939-2003

Everyone at The Cornwall Wildlife Trust was deeply saddened at the recent death of Stewart Clarke/ the warden of our Kennal Vale Nature Reserve. Stewart's childhood was spent in Hough Green/ near Widnes. Ill health was never a stranger to him as a young man. Following graduation from horticultural college/ he joined the staff at Calderstones Park in Liverpool/ one of the city's most prestigious and beautiful botanical parks/ where he was placed in charge of the wild flower gardens. Soon his expertise was recognised throughout the Liverpool parks.

He met Shirley his wife/ while they were both volunteers at a youth fellowship for disabled young people in Widnes, and after a holiday in Cornwall, they moved to Ponsanooth.

I first met Stewart 17 years ago when he became warden at Kennal Vale Nature Reserve. It was obvious from our first meeting that we had a lot in common. Although Stewart was an active member of the Reserves Committee, he had a wonderful disregard for committees generally. His style was to roll up his sleeves, get out to the countryside and get on with the work. In the early days he worked as a volunteer on all the Trust's Reserves. When Lorna Crewes set up a wild flower nursery to sell plants on behalf of the Trust/ Stewart's help and expertise was paramount.

I personally valued his companionship, expertise, good humour, enthusiasm and skill for the many years he worked on all the Wildlife Trust's reserves as a volunteer. No one gave his time more enthusiastically than Stewart. Everyone at the Trust will remember him for his great contribution to Cornwall wildlife conservation.

Stuart Hutchings,
Countryside Ranger, Cornwall Wildlife Trust