A MAN who has dedicated 27 years to wildlife conservation has been honoured by the Prime Minister.

Rick Parker, aged 65 and from Bolton, has been the chairman and driving force of Bolton Conservation Volunteers since 1988.

He first got involved three years previously, having been a keen birdwatcher all his life.

Since then, he has carried out conservation work on more than 30 sites in the North West, creating more than three hundred new ponds, breeding common tern for the first time at Rumworth Lodge and Bleakleach Reservoir.

Mr Parker is the latest recipient of David Cameron's Point of Light award, which recognises outstanding individual volunteers, people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others.

Mr Parker said: "I feel honoured to receive this award, which recognises our achievements over the last 30 years. This wouldn't have been possible without the support and commitment of my amazing volunteers who have dedicated hours and hours of their time.”

As well as his dedicated work over the last 27 years, Mr Parker has successfully collaborated on a year-long project with the Bolton Wildlife Project and Lancashire Wildlife Trust to develop a motorway-side habitat to save the local dragonfly population.

He has reached out and recruited more than a hundred volunteers, giving talks and running workshops to over 750 groups of young people, particularly those involved with the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Mr Parker is the 334th winner of the new Points of Light award which has been developed in partnership with the hugely successful Points of Light programme in the USA and was first established by President George H. W. Bush. Over 5,000 US Points of Light have been awarded and both President George H. W. Bush and President Barack Obama have publicly supported the partnership with Points of Light UK which honours shining examples of volunteering across the country.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Rick has dedicated almost three decades to conserving and cultivating the wildlife in his local area. Thanks to his hard work leading Bolton Conservation Volunteers, hundreds of wildlife habitats have been created and preserved in Bolton for future generations to enjoy. By inspiring young people to get involved, Rick has laid the groundwork for conservation to continue in Bolton long into the future.”