Volunteer of the Year

The Mendip Hills AONB Partnership have announced their Volunteer of the Year for 2021. John Davies, from Weston-Super-Mare, is this years well-deserving recipient.

The award is made to the volunteer who the AONB Unit think has gone above and beyond a normal volunteering role. John was presented with the award for supporting the Young Ranger scheme for over 10 years and has been involved with the programme since he was a Young Ranger himself. He was presented with his award at December’s Young Ranger. 

John was chosen for the award for his unprecedented loyalty and dedication to the AONB Young Ranger programme and rising to whatever challenge he is faced with at the monthly Saturday meet-ups. John has really pushed himself in a challenging year for everyone and made additional efforts to renew his safeguarding training and take part in a press interview. He is one of the unsung champions of the AONB volunteers and always turns up with a smile on his face and spring in his step! 

Lauren Holt, Ranger Volunteer Coordinator, said, ‘John’s story is one we always use to demonstrate the value of the Young Rangers and Volunteer Rangers, he started with the AONB unit in his teenage years as a Young Ranger and is now supporting the programme as a Volunteer Ranger. It would be difficult to imagine how the Young Ranger programme would be without John’s support and for that reason I felt it was important he received the recognition from myself and the rest of the team.’

The AONB Partnership strive to involve people in the management of this nationally protected area and through the AONB Unit offer a wide variety of opportunities. We will be taking on a new Young Ranger cohort in September 2022 for 11 & 12 year olds in the local area. If you would like to hear updates on how to apply then please subscribe to our newsletter via our website, we will be holding an open evening in late spring. Visit Mendip Hills AONB – Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty