Print page
Top award for Nature Lovers in Lowestoft
Last modified: 01 December 2011
A local Lowestoft couple have been awarded one of the RSPB’s most prestigious tributes - the President’s Award - in recognition of their outstanding commitment to nature conservation in Suffolk.
The RSPB President’s Award is given to those volunteers who have made an outstanding contribution to the RSPB. Only a few people across the Society receive this every year.
Brian and Diane Sivyer began volunteering with the RSPB in the 1970’s. During their 35 years of service, the couple have used their experience and skills in education and working with young people to help the RSPB step up for nature in a wide variety of ways.
They were founder members of the Lowestoft RSPB local group and have been heavily involved in the Group’s committee in various roles over the years.
Their love of wildlife has taken them from schools in Suffolk in their role as ‘Bird Friendly Schools Volunteers’ to muddy farmer’s fields where they carry out farmland bird surveys for farmers. They are also often to be found at the popular RSPB Minsmere nature reserve planning and helping families to discover nature at Family fun days.
And if that’s not enough, they find time to look after five RSPB pin badge boxes in the area, raising crucial funds for RSPB conservation work across the East.
Brain Sivyer explains: “Over the last 35 years we’ve gained a great deal of satisfaction from volunteering with the RSPB.
“As Bird Friendly School Volunteers it is amazing to see the boundless enthusiasm that children have for wildlife. When you see that big grin on their face when they first discover a new bird or bug, it makes all the effort feel so worthwhile.
“As well as going into schools, many of our volunteering opportunities have taken us to places that we have never been before, and enabled us to meet some fantastic people that we would otherwise never have met. Spending an early morning surveying birds with the sun glistening off the dew in the fields is a great experience and one of the things that makes getting up early worth it.
“It was an extremely pleasant surprise to receive this award, and to have our support recognised. We really enjoy volunteering for such a worthwhile charity and look forward to doing much more in future.”
Emily Field, RSPB Volunteer & Farmer Alliance Project Officer, comments: “When Brian & Diane started volunteering to carry out bird surveys for farmers, we could only have dreamed how successful the project would become, and since then volunteers have surveyed over 100 farms in Suffolk. These vital bridges simply couldn’t have been built without these fantastic people giving a gift of their time to save farmland birds like the iconic skylark.”
Ian Barthorpe, Marketing and Publicity Officer at RSPB Minsmere, adds: “Brian and Diane’s enthusiasm is infectious. They have put in so many hours helping the RSPB, in so many different capacities, that it’s easy to forget they are volunteers rather than paid staff. At Minsmere, Brian and Diane have been instrumental in ensuring the ongoing success of our extremely popular summer family days which they have helped to plan and organise for more than ten years. This award is totally justified.”
If you fancy spending anywhere from an hour on a weekend or more volunteering with the RSPB in Suffolk please contact Jane Delaney on 01603 697503 or email jane.delaney@rspb.org.uk. No matter what your skills or experience are, all you need is a passion for nature, there is an opportunity for everyone!