Matthew Dooley, aged 15, was presented with his Nature Ranger Award for his work with the Alderney and Sark Watch group.
Watch is the junior section of Alderney Wildlife Trust.
Matthew received a certificate signed by the Wildlife Trust’s vice-president, Chris Packham, a badge and a rucksack.
It was the first time the top award has been handed to an Alderney or Sark member since 2016 and is one of only a handful given out across all of the Wildlife Trusts every year.
To gain the award, Matthew had to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of Alderney wildlife and nature. He also worked as a volunteer behind the desk in the Alderney Wildlife Trust shop and created a photo montage of the work of wildlife trust volunteers over the years.
Matthew is Alderney Watch’s most regular attendee. He had previously gained his Kestrel Award, for which he completed a project showing Longis Bird Hide through the seasons.
Matthew said: ‘I’m very proud to receive the award – wildlife volunteering is something I really enjoy.’
Theo Gauvain, aged 6, was presented with his Hedgehog Award.
Activities for that included keeping a moth trap.
‘I really like seeing what is inside it,’ he said.
The Alderney Watch group has been running for about 10 years and has around 30 members. It has handed out 11 Nature Ranger Awards – more than any other single Wildlife Trust group across the UK.
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