New hide at Tring Reservoirs dedicated to Herts naturalist

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust has built a new hide and named it in memory of Paul Thrush, the Trust’s late Nature Reserves manager.

The hide, funded by the National Lottery Heritage fund, looks out over Wilstone Reservoir, part of Tring Reservoirs Nature Reserve. Lesley Davies, chief executive at the Trust, says: "We're very pleased that this new bird hide will give visitors to Wilstone Reservoir an opportunity to enjoy the nature reserve that Paul loved so much.

The new hide overlooking Wilstone Reservoir (Josh Kubale).

"Paul's enthusiasm for wildlife was infectious and he was instrumental in making Hertfordshire and Middlesex a wilder place. He is sorely missed by his former colleagues; we hope that this bird hide serves as a wonderful memory of his life. Though our birdwatching hides are currently closed due to Coronavirus restrictions, we hope to welcome visitors to the new hide soon."

Paul was reserves officer and later nature reserves manager at the Trust from 2007 until 2016. He gained a BSc in Countryside Management from the University of Lincoln and was a Ranger for Lee Valley Park Authority and Ealing Council before joining the Trust in 2007 as a Reserves Officer.

Paul left Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust in 2016 and went to join Devon Wildlife Trust at their Seaton Jurassic centre. He passed away in 2020.