David Bellamy 1933-2019

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David Bellamy, former Patron of the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation and a supporter of the NGO Educational Trust has died. 

Liam Bell, Chairman of the NGO, said: “David inspired a generation of children to look under logs, identify the trees in their garden and learn more about our fascinating natural world. He also understood the work of gamekeepers, the value of their work to conservation and sustainable land management and was a supporter of the NGO for decades.

“David was the NGO Patron from 1999 and became an Honorary Life Member. He was also a keen supporter of the NGO Educational Trust. He will be greatly missed by everyone at the NGO who has worked with him over the years.”

As part of his support for the work of gamekeeepers, David presented the NGO Educational Trust with a prestigious trophy made from a piece of bog oak, which is many thousands of years old, to symbolise the enduring nature of mankind’s relationship with the living landscape.

This trophy became “The Bellamy Award” in 2010 and is now the NGO Educational Trust’s annual conservation award, presented each year. It recognises those who display exceptional creativity and initiative in promoting sustainable land management.

Brian Hayes of the NGO Educational Trust, who organise and fund the Award each year, said: “I have worked with David countless times over the years and he was always so full of enthusiasm, an enthusiasm which was infectious. I have seen him ignite children’s love for our natural environment on the many school trips he made with the Trust.

“His support for our work and the work of gamekeepers was unprecedented.”

David Bellamy became the Patron of The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation when it joined forces with the Moorland Gamekeepers’ Association in 1999 and was an Honorary Life Member.