Tributes paid to passionate Warwickshire Conservationist
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust has expressed
its deepest sympathies and sadness to the family of Dr Andy Tasker
who has died following a period of illness.
Andy Tasker was the Director and Chief
Executive of the Trust for 22 years until his retirement in
2010. During this period, as a passionate and inspiring
conservationist, he led the organisation through a major period of
growth and activity - bringing significant benefits for the
wildlife and people of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull.
Andy also established and led the
development and growth of the Trust's ecological consultancy,
Middlemarch Environmental into a successful business providing
ecological advice at a national and international level.
Widely recognised in his profession, Andy was also President of the
Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, the professional
body for ecologists, for a number of years.
Following his 'retirement' from the Trust
in 2010, Andy continued his involvement as a Director of
Middlemarch Environmental but also moved to take up a post as
Director of the international Globe Programme .
Michael Bunney, Chair of Warwickshire
Wildlife Trust said, "Andy transformed a small body of keen
volunteers into a significant organisation with a team of over 40
staff and with a subsidiary consultancy company that together are
now a major influence not only within our area but with national
and international impact. His knowledge, enthusiasm and innovations
will be greatly missed."
John and Val Roberts, current Trustees and
former Chairs of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust said "The man had
green fire in his veins. From the outset Andy showed huge energy,
enthusiasm and determination, strenuously employing his
considerable talents to develop Warwickshire Wildlife Trust into
the leading local environmental charity in Warwickshire, Coventry
and Solihull. Despite all the challenging situations
confronting wildlife, Andy remained permanently cheerful, calm,
friendly and unflappable. He could physically lie down in
front of earth-moving equipment destroying Bishop's
Hill, and just as easily debate with contentious heads of industry,
business and local government. He was equally splendid with
the highest and the humblest, inspiring, impressing, charming and
influencing everyone. He was brilliant with people and
budgets, and computers and strategies, lectures and running
meetings, indeed almost everything."
Stephen Trotter, the current Chief
Executive of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, said:
"We have lost a true friend in Andy -
over the years he has achieved so much for people and wildlife not
just in the West Midlands but at a national and international level
too. He will be sorely missed and his passing is a major loss
to the cause of nature conservation and the natural
environment."
-ENDS-
Contact information:
Stephen Trotter, Chief Executive
Phone: 024 7630 8994
Email stephen.trotter@wkwt.org.uk
Notes for editors:
- Dr Andy Tasker was Chair of
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust from 1982-1985 and then Director /
Chief Executive from 1988 - 2010. Andy was born in 1951.
- Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is a
voluntary charity which works for people and wildlife in
Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull. The Trust looks after 56
reserves, we are supported by more than 23,000 members and 500
volunteers. We promote a better natural environment for local
wildlife and local people as part of our aim to create a living
landscape in the West Midlands. For more information see www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk.
- The Wildlife Trusts (TWT) wildlifetrusts.org There
are 47 individual Wildlife Trusts covering the whole of the
UK. All are working for an environment rich in wildlife for
everyone. We have more than 800,000 members including 150,000
members of our junior branch Wildlife Watch.
Our vision is to create A Living
Landscape and secure Living
Seas. We manage 2,256 nature reserves covering more than
90,000 hectares.and every year we advise thousands of landowners
and organisations on how to manage their land for wildlife. We also
run marine conservation projects around the UK, collecting vital
data on the state of our seas and celebrating our amazing marine
wildlife. Every year we work with thousands of schools and
our nature reserves and visitor centres receive millions of
visitors. Each Wildlife Trust is working within its local
communities to inspire people about the future of their area: their
own Living Landscapes and Living Seas.