AN influential head of an expanding voluntary organisation devoted to the conservation of wildlife and wild places in Cumbria has announced his retirement.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s director Peter Bullard is stepping down from the role after being instrumental in overseeing many positive habitat preserving initiatives that has allowed wildlife in the county to thrive.

Mr Bullard joined the trust in 1988 and took over as director in 1994. His highlights during his 24 years in the role have included:

l An end to the destruction of limestone pavements in Cumbria following years of campaigning by the trust.

l Creating more than 2,000 acres of new nature reserve including Foulshaw Moss, near Levens, and Eycott Hill, near Keswick.

l Thirty years of progress in peat conservation from seeing all but one peat extraction site in the county close down to the restoration of numerous damaged peatlands in the uplands of Cumbria.

l Fifteen years of meadow restoration and helping create 60 new Coronation Meadows across England and Wales to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2016.

l Keeping red squirrels widespread in the county.

l Helping otters to re-colonise every river in Cumbria; they were considered extinct in 1988.

l Tripling the number of volunteers and members involved in helping the trust.

“I have been immensely privileged and proud to have worked for one of the best organisations in Cumbria," said Mr Bullard. "It has been amazing to work with so many dedicated and enthusiastic people and together we have made a real difference.

"I have been supported and encouraged by the many caring members, and friends, who give Cumbria Wildlife Trust its special warmth, and by a dedicated team of trustees. I am proud that we have built a large, staunch and dedicated band of volunteers supported by a uniquely skilled and hugely committed staff team.

“Being Director of Cumbria Wildlife Trust is more than a full-time job and I couldn’t have achieved anything without the support of my wife Lindsay. We both love wild flowers so this will give us time to enjoy botanising together. There are also many mountains which need climbing and I will carry on helping to conserve the very special wildlife and wild places of Cumbria."

Formed in 1962 and supported by more than 15,000 members and supporters, the trust cares for over 40 nature reserves, campaigns for the protection of endangered habitats and species, and works with adults and children to discover the importance of the natural world.