The history can be traced back to 1953 when two botanists RH Roberts, a local headmaster and WS "Bill" Lacey, a lecturer in University College of North Wales who carried out vegetation surveys and recommended that the fens of Cors Goch and Cors Geirch be acquired as nature reserves. In 1962 Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves stepped in to make a holding purchase until a local conservation body could be established to buy and manage nature reserves. In 1962 65 people met and formed The North Wales Naturalists from which a council of 10 was elected with Colonel JC Wynn Finch as Chairman and Dr WS Lacey as Hon Secretary. By 1965 the Trust had 359 members and 3 nature reserves totaling just over 145 acres. Over the following years several other local Trusts would provide their reserves and assets to the North Wales Naturalists and while some larger branches would be separated to form independent Trusts; 1972 West Wales Trust formed the Meirionnydd Branch, 1982 Montgomeryshire Branch became the Montgomeryshire Trust for Nature Conservation, 1988 the Trust was renamed as ‘North Wales Wildlife Trust’.
The annual Lacey Lecture, presented by the Wildlife Trust is a tradition which has been going for over 15 years. It is in memory of Professor William Lacey B.Sc, Ph.D, D.Sc, F.L.S, F.G.S known by everyone as ‘Bill’ Lacey who achieved great academic distinction and international standing in palaeobotany. He was also an inspirational teacher and a practical man when it came to conservation. He became the Trust’s first Secretary, was for 14 years Chairman and then President. He was an academic, teacher and practical conservationist of great skill and dedication and the Trust is grateful to Bill and to his family for the time and energy they have given to wildlife.
The Trust also runs up to 3 Living Landscapes projects, extending conservation work off reserves and onto private sites by working with landowners. They are currently the Alun and Chwiler, Anglesey Fens and Wrexham Industrial Estate Living Landscapes. This work improves opportunities for people and wildlife and follows the principles of bigger, better and more connected landscapes. Within the Wrexham Industiral Estate project the trust manages sites on behalf of corporate bodies, while further supporting other organisations to advise best management practices for wildlife conservation on their own land.
"We work with businesses, landholders, farmers and community groups on and around the Wrexham Industrial Estate, advising on conservation land management and improving connectivity for wildlife across one of the largest industrial areas in the UK. This involves carrying out surveys for conservation priority species, mapping habitats and drawing up management prescriptions for businesses operating on the industrial estate." - Jonny Hulson, Living Landscape Officer
