Dr Angus Lunn has devoted his life to voluntary conservation in the UK, and his achievements were recognised at a special ceremony at The Wildlife Trusts' annual meeting, when he was awarded the Christopher Cadbury medal by Aubrey Manning, presenter and President of The Trusts.
Alongside a small number of similar enthusiasts, Dr Lunn, of Heddon-on-the-Wall, was one of the original members of the Northumberland and Durham Naturalists' Trust which began in 1962.
He is a vice-president of the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, and was one of its Trustees and chaired its Conservation Committee for 35 years.
A lecturer in ecology at Newcastle University until his retirement, his knowledge of upland vegetation is prodigious. He produced the first vegetation map of the whole of Northumberland based substantially on his own field work and, through this, identified and mapped the Sphagnum bogs in the west of the County.
Dr Lunn spearheaded a campaign through Northumberland Wildlife Trust to ensure, not only that the bogs' ecological significance was recognised, but that they were protected into the future. He has also played an important role in protecting native woodland and other rare habitats in Northumberland.
As head of Adult Education at Newcastle University he instigated a new qualification, the Certificate in Nature Conservation. He was a member of the Northumberland National Park Committee for nine years and chaired the Council (now Campaign) for National Parks for ten years. He now serves on the North Pennines AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) Partnership.
Mike Pratt, Chief Executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trust said: "Angus is a legendary conservationist in Northumberland.
"He has a unique mix of well honed field naturalist skills, and a deep understanding of how landscapes and ecosystems work. He thoroughly deserves this award."
Dr Lunn said: "I am deeply honoured. When we began efforts to conserve the mires we didn't appreciate the important role of peatlands in carbon sequestration, and now that climate change is properly recognised as a frightening threat to the planet it makes all of our collective efforts to conserve and restore peatlands and other carbon-storing ecosystems even more vital."
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