Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2010/January 2011 | Page 122

country life

Island Life - December 2010

50 Years of Inspiring People
Peter Hutchings, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

From the outset, the Hampshire and
Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has been

in practical conservation tasks.
Having a vision is one thing; turning

step change took place in delivering
the education vision, when Swanwick

very aware of its role in helping people

it into a reality is something very

Lakes Wildlife Reserve was established.

understand the environment and our

different.

At last, a purpose built facility set in

wildlife. We have understood the

And from the first Trust AGM in

80 acres, where education could be

challenge of inspiring and enthusing

1962 with some 450 members, the

delivered to an audience that covered

the next generation in an increasingly

reality must have seemed a long

schools, community groups and the

urbanised world. In fact, in the very

way off. Although rapid steps were

general public.

early days, it was recommended that

made to establish the Trust’s original

the Trust should secure a series of

nature reserves, these first sites did

1996 at Blashford Lakes and Testwood

reserves that would be used primarily

not necessarily lend themselves to

Lakes in 2002. The Trust’s reserves

for education purposes.

large scale public access for learning.

on the Island include Arreton Down,

Pursuing this vision would require a

Swanpond Copse, Eaglehead and

was given the role of Education

dog