Trevor Beer, the wildlife and countryside columnist for the Western Morning News, has been honoured with the MBE for his services to journalism and the environment.

Trevor is a freelance journalist who helped set a up a chain of wildlife habitats in the region. He encourages landowners, farmers and householders to use their plots to help animals and plantlife thrive.

His tireless conservation work and heart-warming articles have won alegion of admirers among WMN readers and now his achievements have been recognised nationally.

Trevor has declared himself “staggered” at the news.

The 64-year-old has written a daily wildlife column in the WMN for the past nine years, and said: “This is just a lovely surprise. It will definitely be abig boost for wildlife.”

His writing has touched thousands of readers over the years.

But Trevor said he had no idea who had nominated him for the accolade.

He said: “I think the best thing that has happened to me is becoming part of the WMN. It is the dream of anyone who is interested in natural history to be able to reach out to other people and get them involved in it. At the moment I can do thatthrough my writing.”

His career as an award-winning conservationist and wildlife writer startedas a hobby while he earned a living working for local government.

Articles for small local newspapers eventually gave him the experience toprogress to the WMN, where he has built up a dedicated following.

“What I love most of all about my job is being out among the wildlife andthen writing all about it. It is like being paid to do my favourite hobby.It is just marvellous,” he said.

WMN executive editor Philip Bowern said: “Trevor’s long association with the newspaper and his tireless work to protect and promote the wildlife of theWestcountry mean this award is hugely deserved.

“As anyone who has met Trevor or has read his columns knows only too well,he is both an expert in his subject and an enthusiast for it. But more thanthat, he has the gift of being able to communicate that enthusiasm.”

Earlier this year Trevor was awarded the David Bellamy prize by the British Naturalist Association for his lifetime service to wildlife.

Read our story about that award here.

Other accolades include the Gavin Maxwell Award for the conservation of otters, and the John Major Award for conservation.

But one of his most successful projects to date has been the WildlifeMillennium Project, launched nearly two years ago with the WMN.

The project asked readers to dedicate stretches of their own land to the preservation of wildlife. So far, more than 6,000 acres of land across the Westcountry are now wildlife havens.

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