Obituary
Wildlife champion Dr Andy Tasker

Buy photos » Wildlife champion Dr Andy Tasker, who has died aged 60. (s)

TRIBUTES have been paid to former Warwickshire Wildlife Trust chairman Dr Andy Tasker, who has died after a short illness aged 60.

Dr Tasker, who lived locally and is survived by wife Linda and sons Paul and Stephen, was a vocal supporter of Warwickshire's wildlife and natural heritage for many years.

Back in 2005, ahead of the general election that year, he called in Observer for people to vote for a candidate committed to conservation, saying: “Five years into the new Millennium, the need for strong political leadership on the environment has never been greater. Despite the starkest warning yet from scientists about climate change, most new buildings still don’t incorporate energy saving technology.”

Later that year he spoke out against possible expansion of Coventry Airport, telling a public inquiry at Leamington Town Hall it would have an “appalling” effect on the area's nature reserves.

And he hit local and national headlines in 2010 when – speaking in a personal capacity rather than for the wildlife trust - he launched an astonishing attack on daffodils, calling for them to be banished from the countryside via his own website www.ihatedaffodils.org.uk.

Dr Tasker claimed garden daffodils caused damage to the environment and made the countryside look like a garden - comparing it to putting lipstick on the Mona Lisa.

Dr Tasker was from May 2011 until the end of his life the director of the Globe Program, a US based but worldwide environmental education project, encouraging children in schools to measure their local environment, and make their findings available to everyone using the internet.

A statement from its interim director, Dr Jack Fellow, read: “The Globe Program community has lost a true visionary.

“Andy cared so deeply for Globe. He left an indelible mark on where it is headed. Our primary goal is to ensure his vision for the Program is carried out.”

Tributes were also paid on Twitter with one person writing: “Sad to hear that Dr Andy Tasker has passed away - a great friend of Warwickshire's natural heritage.”

The Tasker family has advised any donations in honour of Dr Tasker be made to either Warwickshire Wildlife Trust or Cancer Active UK c/o John Taylor Funeral Service, Leamington, 01926 426052.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust has expressed its deepest sympathies and sadness to the family of Dr Andy Tasker.

Dr Tasker was the director and chief executive of the trust for 22 years until his retirement in 2010. During this period, as a passionate and inspiring conservationist, he led the organisation through a major period of growth and activity – bringing significant benefits for the wildlife and people of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull.

Andy also established and led the development and growth of the Trust’s ecological consultancy, Middlemarch Environmental into a successful business providing ecological advice at a national and international level. Widely recognised in his profession, Andy was also President of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, the professional body for ecologists, for a number of years.

Michael Bunney, Chair of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust said, “Andy transformed a small body of keen volunteers into a significant organisation with a team of over 40 staff and with a subsidiary consultancy company that together are now a major influence not only within our area but with national and international impact. His knowledge, enthusiasm and innovations will be greatly missed.”

John and Val Roberts, current Trustees and former Chairs of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust said: “The man had green fire in his veins. From the outset Andy showed huge energy, enthusiasm and determination, strenuously employing his considerable talents to develop Warwickshire Wildlife Trust into the leading local environmental charity in Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull. Despite all the challenging situations confronting wildlife, Andy remained permanently cheerful, calm, friendly and unflappable. He could physically lie down in front of earth-moving equipment destroying Bishop’s Hill, and just as easily debate with contentious heads of industry, business and local government. He was equally splendid with the highest and the humblest, inspiring, impressing, charming and influencing everyone. He was brilliant with people and budgets, and computers and strategies, lectures and running meetings, indeed almost everything.”

Stephen Trotter, the current Chief Executive of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, said: “We have lost a true friend in Andy – over the years he has achieved so much for people and wildlife not just in the West Midlands but at a national and international level too. He will be sorely missed and his passing is a major loss to the cause of nature conservation and the natural environment.”