IAN Kendall, who is a Bude boy and an ex-Budehaven School student, has recently been presented with an award by Lord Heseltine for his work in conservation and land management at a ceremony held at Woburn Abbey.

After leaving school Ian gained his BSc degree and embarked on a career in conservation.

He first worked as a ranger with the Lee Valley Country Park Service in the Essex/Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire area before working for the RSPB at many reserves, including Sandwell Valley in the South Midlands, Blacktoft Sands on the east coast and then as reserve manager at the highly prestigious reserve at Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire.

Upon leaving Bempton Cliffs, Ian became the estates manager with the Land Trust covering a large area in Yorkshire and south into Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

One of his main tasks is to give presentations to the public, schools and government bodies as well as overseeing the development of new nature reserves.

As a fanatical birder, Ian is placed 19th in the list of those holding British bird sightings, with currently 520 species seen in the UK over the years, and has also travelled widely worldwide on birding trips.

He still visits his home in Cornwall quite often and would like to return to the area eventually.