New Conservation and Research Award

We have just introduced a new conservation and research award, created to continue the legacy of our former Chairman, Marion Paviour.

Marion was Chairman of the Board of Directors since the inception of the Trust in 2002, until she stepped down from this position in 2017.

The Trust was formed initially to manage the bird of prey hospital, research and conservation work, but assumed management of the entire operation in 2004. Marion had been a trusted advisor to the Smith family for many years before that. Her vision for the Trust from its outset was to create a world leader in bird of prey conservation and she has worked tirelessly to achieve that. Under her guidance the Trust has transformed into a highly-regarded conservation charity with international impact and a visitor attraction that has gone from strength to strength.

She is a remarkable woman and her acumen has been of great benefit to the Trust as we’ve navigated the vagaries of the economy, climate and opportunities for growth, as well as the conservation challenges. Her passion for the Trust encompassed the wellbeing and development of the staff and volunteers, whom she viewed as an extended family.

In 2017, when she stepped down from her duties as our Chairman, Marion left us with a fantastic foundation upon which our future successes will be built, and we want to continue her legacy. One of the ways that we are doing this is with the introduction of the Marion Paviour Award. The purpose of the award is to further the conservation of birds of prey and it is intended to support early-career researchers working towards this goal – something that has always been very important to Marion.

Find out more about the application criteria and apply.