Ian Glendinning, who received an MBE in King's Birthday Honours, has spent a lifetime dedicated to conservation in NI
A Magherafelt man who has devoted most of his life to conservation in Northern Ireland, says he is honoured to have received an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List for services to Country Sports and Conservation.
Ian Glendinning is the Managing Director of the Irish Grouse Conservation Trust (IGCT), an organization dedicated to the conservation and sustainable management of grouse populations and upland habitats across the Province.
His work with the Trust focuses on preserving declining bird species through proactive gamekeeping practices.
This includes the Glenwherry Hills Project in Co Antrim, where he has been the driving force behind the ‘Glenwherry Hills Nature Recovery Zone’, demonstrating how sustainable upland management can benefit a wide variety of endangered wildlife and flora.
Mr Glendinning is also involved in Lough Fea Grouse Conservation and Megargy And District Game and Conservation Society.
"I was surprised and honoured to learn that I was to receive an MBE,” he said.
“I would like to thank my wife Roberta, children Alan, Robert and Laura, my brother Uel, and all the people who have worked alongside me over the years especially the farmers and landowners who allowed me to go on to their lands, the members of Megargy Gun Club, directors of Irish Grouse Conservation Trust, and CAFRE at Glenwherry.”
His interest in conservation goes back to when he kept ornamental pheasants when he was still a young boy.
Mr Glendinning was also instrumental in restoring a stretch of the ‘Old Dublin Road’ at Megargy – about a mile outside Magherafelt – which connected Derry/Londonderry with Dublin City by horse coach in the late 1500’s.