Fred Quinney

A DEDICATED conservationist from Clevedon has been paid tribute to by the many people who joined him in sustaining woodland in the town.

Fred Quinney was the founder member of Woodcutters for Wildlife, a voluntary group he formed in the 1990s to maintain an annual coppicing programme in Norton’s Wood on the Clevedon Court Estate.

He died on May 24 at the age of 82, just a few months after he stood down as the group’s chairman.

The father-of-two of West Way turned his energy to trees and nature conservation following a long career as an aeronautical engineer.

For several years he was a voluntary senior warden with the Avon Wildlife Trust, taking an active part in the management of the Clevedon Court Estate woods, and worked as a tree warden for Clevedon Town Council until 2009.

The work of Woodcutters for Wildlife has resulted in a number of different habitats being established in Norton’s Wood and, in 2000, Fred also lead volunteers in the laying out of the Millennium Orchard off Brookfield Walk.

Two years later the group also planted 2,500 native trees and shrubs to create a new wood between the Blind Yeo river and Davis Lane.

In recognition of his contribution to nature conservation, Woodcutters for Wildlife members have appointed Fred as their honorary life president.

A tribute from the group said: “Volunteers enjoy working with the Woodcutters for many reasons, but whether it be to keep fit through practical work in the fresh air, to contribute to wildlife conservation, to learn about trees and woodland, or to add ‘volunteering experience’ to a CV, we all owe a debt of gratitude to Fred Quinney for bringing us together, and we are committed to following his ideals and carrying on the good work.”

Fred leaves his wife Joan, two children and four grandchildren.