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“I used to live in Africa and I’m looking forward to returning there” said Mike who is fluent in Swahili and Bantu.
“I’ll be working with villages to help them benefit from eco tourism and also game reserves, using my County Council skills to the full.
“I’m sure that the support and enthusiasm shown by rural people in Cheshire towards project development can be utilised for the benefit of people in other countries.
“I’m planning on going back and forth to East Africa a few times and I also will be keeping in touch with rural communities in Cheshire to help them if I can.”
Mike has worked on the Cheshire ecological network for the past seven years, initially with the European – funded Life ECOnet Project with partners in Italy and Holland and recently on the Sandstone Ridge project.
He joined the County Council after retiring from Cheshire Police where he was the UK’s first Wildlife and Environment Officer and with his knowledge and contacts in Cheshire he was ideally suited to work with farmers, landowners and villages to gather support for SREP.
To date SREP has in excess of 40 projects planned for this year and Mike has been instrumental in applying for additional money from The Heritage Lottery Fund and Rural Enterprise.
Recently a European funded partnership has been developed, led by Dutch partners, which will work with communities in the SREP area focusing on cultural landscape and identity as well as education and the promotion of the Sandstone Ridge.
Chairman of SREP County Councillor Steve Wilkinson said: “Mike’s drive and enthusiasm for the ECOnet project has clearly been demonstrated by its two successes.
“His ability to communicate with rural people has been a great asset.
“I am sure that the foundation he has put in place will ensure the success of the SREP project for many years to come.”
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SW/LJ
Note To Editors: For more information please contact Mike Wellman, ECOnet Project Development Officer on 01244 603195 and County Councillor Steve Wilkinson on 01565 734195. |