The Lincolnshire Bird Club

From Spalding Today web site:

MBE for conservationist farmer

A SOUTH Holland farmer is celebrating after being made an MBE in the
Queen's New Year's Honours list.

Nicholas Watts (62), of Vine House Farm, Deeping St Nicholas, has been
given the honour for services to farming and conservation in
Lincolnshire.

Mr Watts said: "This is totally unexpected. It's a shock but a very
nice one.
"It's nice to have all my work over the years recognised.

"I don't suppose it will alter my life. I'll still keep on doing what
I've been doing."

Mr Watts has been involved with conservation for the last 30 years, but
has had a love of birds since he was just four years old.

He added: "I like to see the birds about and help other people look
after the birds on their farms.
"I am a farmer as well as a conservationist. It goes hand in hand.
"I suppose this is what all the work I've done over the years has
amounted to."

Mr Watts and his wife Anne are now looking forward to a trip to
Buckingham Palace to receive the award from a member of the Royal
family
.
Mr Watts does research and trials conservation ideas on his farm and
then shares results and advice with other farmers.

He has come up with advice for the best way to destroy oil seed rape,
information which is now given out nationally by the Royal Society for
Protection of Birds.

Mr Watts said: "I do all sorts of research on the farm. In April and
May I go around surveying the farm seeing which of the birds are singing
and what they are doing differently.
"In June and July I study a particular species and pass that
information on to other farmers."

Mr Watts has a variety of habitats including wild flower meadows,
redundant dykes and wide grass or weed margins, on his farm, making it
easier to study different bird species.

Mr Watts was born in Deeping St Nicholas. He moved away with his family
at the age of four but returned to the village when he got married in
1966.

He added: "I spend all my spare time involved with farming and thinking
about how we can make it better for the birds.

"This MBE is something extra special for me."

Congratulations to Nicholas. He is a ringer and served on the BTO's Ringing Committee from 1996-2000 and has set up a very succesful Wild Bird seed business.