Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust - History

History

The Trust was founded in 1961 and was then named the Gloucestershire Trust for Nature Conservation. Founder members included Sir Peter Scott and a group of other local people with the shared interest of nature conservation. The name was changed to the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust in 1991. In 1990 Lady Scott became the Trust's patron succeeding her late husband, Sir Peter Scott. Originally the Trust headquarters was at Church House, Standish, which was opened in 1971. By that year 33 nature reserves were under trust management. In 1989 HRH Prince of Wales was present at the launch of the appeal for funding for the proposed new nature centre, which was held in Shire Hall, Gloucester. In 1992 a new headquarters and Conservation Centre was opened at Robinswood Hill Country Park by Sir David Attenborough. In 1993 Sir Henry Elwes became the President following the late Lord Dulverton. In 1995 HRH Prince of Wales visited the Midger SSSI reserve, being one of the woodland reserves in the county. In 1997 HRH Prince of Wales opened the Lower Woods SSSI Nature Reserve. In 1999 Chris Packham launched an event on Cleeve Common hosted by the Trust, which involved geological work at Rolling Bank Quarry SSSI. In 2004 a Special 10 year award from 'Investors in People' was achieved. In 2008 the Badgeworth SSSI nature reserve, the first reserve managed by the Trust, celebrated its 75th anniversary. In 2012 this reserve celebrated its 50th anniversary of being managed by the Trust.