In Memory

Passionate, caring, vital. Just three of the many plaudits used in tribute to Jenny Harris since she passed away suddenly of a short illness on 13^th October 2025. Jenny’s work and legacy are integral to the story of Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. Joining our organisation in 1976 at the very beginnings of Rutland Water Nature Reserve, Jenny was secretary to Tim Appleton’s manager role for ten years. What followed that post was a succession of roles – both paid and unpaid - that undoubtedly help to shape and support the nature conservation of the two counties in a meaningful and invaluable way. 

Until her retirement in 2017, Jenny looked after the limestone grassland quarry reserves at Bloody Oaks, Ketton and Stonesby and the meadows at Cribb’s Meadow, Wymondham Rough, Wymeswold and Holwell. Following retirement, she was back out working with the same team of volunteers she had previously managed, as a volunteer herself. 

Her favourite reserves to volunteer were all places that allowed her to indulge her love of botany. She could often be found with a hand lens and ID guide deciphering the features of the latest wildflower she had seen and simultaneously apologising for not helping with the task at hand!  The sight of Merry’s Meadows full of green-winged orchids or the yellow flash of horseshoe vetch popping up at Bloody Oaks would make her practically euphoric. She graciously shared her knowledge and enthusiasm with fellow staff and volunteers, always on hand to identify something or share an anecdote of reserve management from years gone by. 

In an interview with Jenny in the Summer 2022 issue of WILD she recalls just one of thousands of her wildlife experiences: “My best day out of the year was at Merry’s Meadow. We’d just finished counting 5,000 green-winged orchids in Cow Pasture Close and were reorganising ourselves beside a thick brambly hedge when we heard a peculiar sound. It was a nightingale clearing its throat and then bursting into song! Nobody had heard a nightingale there before. The bird stayed for some time singing its heart out. It really was a spine-tingling moment.”

We cannot remember Jenny without mentioning bats; for decades, she dedicated her life to bat protection, and rehabilitated hundreds of bats after injury. Part way through a volunteering session, she would often take a “bat call” on her phone, drop everything and drive out to remote places to rescue a bat. In fact, just a few days before she passed away, her last act for her beloved local wildlife was to release a bat back into the wild after rehabilitating it at her home, which became something of a bat hospital. 

One of Jenny’s favourite things to do was to lead a guided walk whether that was for the Trust, the bat conservation group or for Rutland Natural History Society, of which she was a key member for nearly 50 years. Jenny was passionate about communicating the importance of wildlife and once said: “We need to have heroes who can inspire us to be part of their work. It’s exciting even to be a small cog in the organisations looking after wildlife.” and through her tireless work, she became one of those heroes herself. A sincerely passionate and dedicated individual; Jenny will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

In memory of my adored Mum, Barbara Woodhall, a child of the countryside who cared about nature and held a special place in her heart for the wonderful Rutland Water ospreys.

I loved watching them with you Mum ...Gail xx

In memory of Tony Neal, to help the wildlife as he always did.

This donation is for all the wildlife eg butterflies, hedgehogs, bumble bees and in general helping to keep these creatures alive to help our environment.

In memory of my late husband Tony. Cossington Meadows was our closest nature reserve and will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

Miss Pleasance Burroughes: 1921 - 2025

The Trust was saddened to learn of the death of Pleasance Burroughes on 30th April, at 104.

Pleasance lived in Aldgate, Ketton, all her life, growing up in the "The Cottage" - the large house built by her grandfather (now Aldgate Lodge), until moving to another Aldgate property when The Cottage was sold on in the 1980s.

A prominent Ketton family, the Burroughes were renowned horticulturalists. Pleasance was herself a plantswoman, and a keen naturalist. She knew a great deal about botany in particular, and was a skilled gardener. The natural world fascinated her and brought her great joy. She was a longtime and enthusiastic supporter of the Trust, and an early participant in the Rutland Natural History Society.

The Burroughes family were great tree enthusiasts and Ketton is particularly blessed with many examples of unusual and magnificent trees which were planted by Pleasance's father and grandfather. Some of these trees can be seen in the four fields that Pleasance kindly donated to the Trust several decades ago. These are Big and Little Stable Fields, and Upper and Lower Priory Fields, and they lie either side of Station Road. Lower Priory Field is where the Trust's grazing herd of sheep pass the summer months.

As well as being used in our conservation work, these fields form an important part of green space in the village of Ketton. In addition to their historical heritage, they act nowadays as peaceful places where many species – bats, birds, deer, badgers and butterflies to name a few – can roam undisturbed.

Pleasance’s donation was characteristic of her kind and thoughtful nature, and of her concern for the natural world. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.