The chairman of the Friends of Tregoniggie Woods in Falmouth has been presented with a Volunteer Cornwall Award in recognition of his inspirational leadership of the group.

Euan McPhee was singled out in the environmental category of the VCAs and was handed his award by the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Colonel Edward Bolitho, at a celebratory lunch.

Since setting up the group in November of last year, Euan has led the Friends from strength to strength, coming up with new |ideas on how to improve and enhance the woodland, always with sustainability in the forefront. The aim is to preserve the area, not only for the people who use it, but also the wildlife that lives there.

Euan was also behind two successful community tree and bulb planting days when over 80 people joined in, creates regular newsletters, drums up sponsorship and donations of tools and runs twice monthly working parties where friends and neighbours pitch in to help out.

It was recognised by Volunteer Cornwall that Euan inspires and motivates others. His reliability and personal involvement, always getting stuck in with practical tasks, has also earned him great respect from many others.

After discovering he had won the award, Euan said: “I am still in shock at winning. This is very much a team effort and my thanks goes out to everyone involved, especially fellow committee members who also give their time and energy so willingly. It is a wonderful endorsement of all the work that the Friends are doing to make Tregoniggie Woodland a better place for everyone.”

The Friends meet on the second and fourth Saturday of the month at the Venton Road entrance to the woodland. They work from 10am until noon and are always delighted to welcome extra helpers. There are even plans to meet up on Saturday, December 27 “to work off a bit of turkey and pudding.”