An award for George

I was very pleased to read that Great Waldingfield's champion of wildlife, George Millins, has received a community achievement award from Babergh.

George's complete commitment to the cause of biodiversity is well known to all of us who are concerned about these things.  His work with amphibians around the area has been unstinting.  He is probably best known for his frog rescue scheme on Folly Road in the spring, but he works hard to make sure that as many creatures as possible are preserved when inevitable development takes place.  The recent Sainsbury site is a case in point.

George's occasional contributions to this site are very popular, and the advice that he has given to me and my husband about wildlife initiatives at home have been invaluable.  George has the vision to know that man's destruction of habitat ultimately destroys the subtle balance of the environment to the ultimate detriment of us all.

Getting an community achievement award of this type is by no means easy.  The Council simply  organises the administration of the award, and sets the broad rules etc.  It does not dictate who gets one.  Clear evidence of selfless community work, plus the endorsement of a good number of people from the community, are necessary and there are always far more people nominated than awards given.

I will end this post with George's latest words on the current situation.  It starts with a comment about our wood pile, built close to our pond with his encouragement.  He really is an inspiration!

'Well done with the log pile, if you have lizards in the immediate area they will find their way to it and you should see them basking on sunny mornings from late Feb. onwards if the log pile has a sunny aspect. Log and brash piles in a semi shaded or shaded location do provide essential terrestrial habitat for amphibians and a broad based brash pile will help our declining hedgehogs - if any remain in your area.

   The serious decline of bees and butterflies is currently of concern, as well as habitat fragmentation and loss they now have to cope with more frequent and adverse weather. After an early drought, last Spring was mostly dull and wet, this had a damaging effect on some species especially the now misnamed Common Blue. This butterfly over winters as a caterpillar and was due to emerge as an adult butterfly during that dull wet period but as a cold blooded invertebrate it had few opportunities to be active and provide the second generation. Already scarce numbers of this species have plummeted and it now needs help, so if you have an area of grassland that is not regularly mown you could help save this butterfly locally. If you and Nick would like to help I do have the wild flower seeds which provide the all important food and nectar plants - I do provide these F.O.C.'