MBE for Bungy Williams

On 1 November 2004 Bungy Williams was presented with his well earned MBE for services to the environment at County Hall from the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, Mr. Eric Dancer CBE.  Bungy turned down the opportunity of a trip to London to have the award presented locally which meant that he was able to invite a number of guests to the ceremony and also hold a party on the same evening for those involved within he management of the pebblebed heaths.

 The Lord Lieutenant did not miss the irony that the presentation was for an employee of Clinton Devon Estates, in the Clinton Room at County Hall, with Lord Clinton as an invited guest! 

Bungy's citation for his MBE includes the following:

Mr. Williams is one of the most respected conservation practitioners of lowland heat management in the United Kingdom, if not Europe.  Over the past 13 years as commons warden for Clinton Devon Estates, he has transformed the 2,800 acres of scarce heathland that form part of the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths from a scrubby, unprotected area into a site recognized by English Nature as a "beacon of excellence".

The site is now designated not only a Site of Special Scientific Interest, but also a special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation.

"His leadership and practical but innovative, hands-on approach have resulted in the restoration and re-creation of hundreds of acres of heathland and improvements in habitat which have delivered exceptional wildlife gains....

 "Mr. Williams has introduced significant innovations, including transforming the way habitats and species are managed.  As a retired Royal Marine Warrant Officer, he has been extremely successful in ensuring an effective liaison with the Commando Training Centre which uses the area for training, successfully managing the potential tensions between conserving the environment and the needs of military training.  He has also been an effective ambassador the heathland by giving presentations to local people and leading visits......"