Lily of the Valley (by Philip Precey)
Gifts in wills have made an invaluable contribution to the work of the Trust for more than 50 years. We would like to thank those that have helped us in this special way.
Leaving a gift to charity is all about life: a lasting legacy commemorated through the diverse wildlife and wild spaces of our natural world.
Joan Pearcy
“Joan was a truly country person, loving all aspects of rural life, especially animals, birds, flowers and trees. She was very happy to ensure that the Trust would take care of Hawkins Wood”. Dennis Stevens, cousin.
Local nature lover Joan really cared about Hawkins Wood: 10 hectares of beautiful woodland near Therfield, Royston. Joan was concerned that it needed to be properly looked after so that future generations could access and enjoy it.
She was not only kind enough to leave the wood to HMWT in her will, but her additional bequest also ensured we could continue to manage the habitat and safeguard the wildlife that Hawkins Wood is home to.
Herbert Charles Inward
“Bert had a long term interest in the environment and was extremely generous with his time and money. He was very active in the Hemel Hempstead Conservation Volunteers: often found deep in mud clearing out many local ponds.” David Inward, nephew
Mr Inward, known to his friends and family as Bert, was originally from North London. His varied career took him all over the country, and - in the early days as a WW2 RAF radio operator - the world too. He eventually found his way to Hertfordshire, settling in Hemel Hempstead.
He became heavily involved in local community and charity work, including organising flag days for the Wildlife Trust and even winning ‘Best Decorated Stall’ for the Trust at the Christmas Charity Market in 1992.
His support over the past 25 years ranged from being a member and fundraising for the Trust, to conservation volunteering and surveying. He would have been pleased that the Trust’s restoration work has transformed Hertfordshire’s wetlands and improved habitats for our aquatic wildlife. His kind gift to our work will enable this important local conservation to continue.
Frederick John Young
"His love of the outdoors saw Fred travelling the length and breadth of the country with plenty of opportunities to pursue his passion for discovering nature, and pubs selling real ale! Whilst he wasn’t a compulsive twitcher, he would still get quite upset when dipping a mega!” Geoff Young, brother
Fred was born and brought up in Watford, and with his two younger brothers, his early years were spent exploring the local woods and fields. In his adult and married life he moved to Harrow, making him a true Herts and Middlesex man, enjoying gardening, walking and good food.
As a keen bird watcher, he was often seen with a pair of binoculars and a camera around his neck trawling his favourite HMWT reserves, including Stocker’s Lake, Wilstone Reservoir and Amwell.
Fred’s kindness and generosity as a member of the Trust over the past 18 years has made a real difference to local wildlife, now and for the future.
Contact us
Please visit our main legacy page for more information on leaving a legacy donation to Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust. Alternatively, please contact Sarah Rutherford, Fundraising Manager, on 01727 858901 ext. 242 or email sarah.rutherford@hmwt.org.