Bob was one of the two key players (out of a larger caucus of individuals) that established London Wildlife Trust, helping to move it from a loose collective of activists into a formal charitable organisation. He had initially set up the Southwark Wildlife Group (SWG) in April 1981, and eventually met up with Chris Rose, an officer with Herts & Middx Naturalists Trust, who with others had co-founded the London Wildlife Group.

Together with other individuals they organised the Nature in London conference in May 1981 that led to the formation of the Trust in November that year. The SWG continued its work as a key instigator in saving Sydenham Hill Wood - somewhat helped by Bob’s role as a local councillor, and Deputy Leader, in Southwark – and establishing Benhill Road Nature Garden in Camberwell, until the Group was eventually absorbed, like other emerging wildlife groups (e.g. Camden, East End, Lewisham, EnBro[mley], Richmond), into the Trust.

Taking over from Chris Rose, Bob served as our second Chair of trustees from 1982-86, steadying the ship as it transformed to the responsibilities of being a registered charity (Chris became the Trust’s first employee). By the end of Bob’s role as Chair there were local groups active in 24 boroughs, the Trust’s first Director (CEO) and twelve other staff were in post, Camley Street Natural Park had been created and opened, we had moved into our first proper offices in Ladbroke Grove, and had completed the 2-year London Wildlife Habitat Survey with a team working from another office in South Dulwich. This survey helped establish the system of London Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) still in place today. Bob also served on the Council of the Royal Society for Nature Conservation’s (RSNC – to which the early Trust was loosely affiliated) from 1983-87. RSNC is now RSWT. Bob was also a founder of the Fairbrother Group (named after the influential narrator of post-industrial landscapes, Nan Fairbrother) in 1987, which became the Urban Wildlife Group, eventually co-ordinated by RSNC/RSWT, but dissolved by the late ‘90s.

Bob had two books published during his time associated with the Trust/RSNC: City Wildspace (1987), the first history and gazetteer of the urban nature conservation movement, which was updated, reflecting the growth of activity, at the time as The Green Guide to Urban Wildlife (1990). He also launched Urban Wildlife magazine in 1988, which didn’t have a long tenure.