RESIDENTS at The Elms retirement park in Lincolnshire heard recently about the work of Britain’s Wildlife Trusts – from a man well qualified tory.
Graham Turnbull, who is also a resident at the park, spent two decades working at a senior level with a number of Britain’s 46 local Wildlife Trusts.
They included Sussex Wildlife Trust where Graham was development director, and the London Wildlife Trust as its chief executive officer.
During his talk at the park, Graham outlined the important environmental role played by the trusts, including their administration of around 2,300 nature reserves in Britain.
His 20 years service brought Graham into contact with many familiar names in nature conservation, among them Sir David Attenborough, Chris Packham, Bill Oddie, and David Bellamy.
He and his wife Helen moved to The Elms nearly 10 years ago after running a smallholding for many years in the Sussex countryside.
Graham, aged 70, maintains an involvement with the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, and he outlined to fellow residents its work in helping safeguard the surrounding countryside.
He also takes a keen interest in the abundant flora and fauna in the grounds of The Elms where many important habitats and feeding resources for wildlife have been established
These and many other environmental initiatives at the park have, for many successive years, won The Elms the prestigious David Bellamy Conservation Award.
The Elms has been under the Kinch family’s ownership for over 35 years, and its park homes for people aged 50-plus are located in 65 acres of landscaped grounds.
There is more information about the park on its website at www.elmsretirementpark.co.uk.