A "passionate" woodsman who spent almost four decades caring for wildlife has retired. William McLaughlin spent 37 years working as Forestry England wildlife ranger at Bourne Woods, in Lincolnshire. The 68-year-old, who was responsible for conservation and deer management, said: "If your job is your hobby, you don't work a day in your life." Scott Martin, Forestry England manager for Bourne Woods, said: "His passion, expertise and dedication have made a lasting difference to these forests and the wildlife that depends on them." McLaughlin said his love of the outdoors stemmed from childhood.
"I just always loved being in the woods," he said. "It was my environment." He moved to Lincolnshire in 1990 after spending 15 years as a gamekeeper in Scotland's Western Isles. "I couldn't think of anything else I would have done.
"The wood is alive – why would you want to be anywhere else?" Reflecting on his career, McLaughlin said: "I've traveled in the London underground, people do that daily, all their working lives, and I think why would anyone want to do that? "My favourite thing is being out here in the woods." Deer management was an "integral" part of his role. "If you have an unmanaged deer population, they pretty much destroy it, grazing on young vegetation meaning trees can't grow, which has a knock-on effect to wildlife." Martin said McLaughlin's "wealth of knowledge" had been invaluable in "helping us care for these special places".
"His work on deer management has played a vital role in supporting the natural regeneration of native tree species, while his collaboration with local conservation groups has helped deliver positive outcomes for wildlife across the area. "His contribution leaves a lasting legacy and we thank him for his remarkable service and wish him a long, happy and well-deserved retirement." Despite retiring, McLaughlin said he would remain a familiar face in the woods. "I won't miss it, because I'm still going to be here.
I will miss my colleagues and the friends I have made though." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North. Download the BBC News app from the App Store, external for iPhone and iPad or Google Play, external for Android devices 'Fantastic' firefighter retires after 50 years Nurse retires after 50 years working in the NHS
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