A long-serving Crane Valley volunteer has been recognised for more than three decades of environmental work along the River Crane.

Ian McKinnon, a regular volunteer with Friends of the River Crane Environment (FORCE), has received the Peter Spillett Award from Thames Rivers Trust.

The award was presented at Crane Park in Twickenham during a conservation task focused on improving water vole habitat, a project Ian has been spearheading.

Miles Morgan, Chief Executive of Thames Rivers Trust, said: "Ian is hugely deserving of this award. He is an inspiration and a valuable asset to the Crane, its wildlife and the community.

"Committed volunteers such as Ian are making a real and sustained difference, particularly with projects like this for endangered species."

The Peter Spillett Award was created to celebrate the late Peter Spillett, a long-serving trustee of the charity who was passionate about improving rivers across the Thames basin and the wildlife they support.

Peter's widow, Yvette de Garis, joined Miles Morgan on the banks of the Crane to present Ian with an engraved silver salver.

She said: "It's a real privilege to honour someone who has put so much into the Crane and delivered such amazing results," adding that wildlife and the Thames rivers had been close to Peter's heart.

advertisement

Ian's voluntary work has significantly enhanced biodiversity in the lower Crane Valley.

He has led a water vole restoration programme which has seen a new colony released and successfully established in and around Crane Park Island. He has also created kingfisher nesting banks to improve breeding opportunities for the iconic river bird.

Alongside this, Ian has played a key role in restoring meadows, hedgerows and woodland habitats.

Rob Gray, Director at the Crane Valley Community Interest Company, who nominated Ian for the award, described him as "highly skilled and motivated, as well as being intensely practical and reliable".

"Most visits in and around Crane Park you will find him doing his thing, everyone knows and respects him, and the place would look very different without his care and attention," he said.

Nominations for this year's Peter Spillett Award open on 1 April, with the trust again seeking an outstanding individual working or volunteering to improve rivers across the Thames River Basin.

To find out more about the award click here.

READ MORE: Twickenham gym celebrates strong showing at London Winter Turf Games.

advertisement

We want to provide Twickenham with more and more clickbait-free local news. To do that, we need a loyal newsletter following. Help us survive and sign up for our free weekly newsletter by clicking the link HERE.