This year is our 40th anniversary, so I thought I would tell you a little about the founder of the Hawk Conservancy.

Reg and friend, in the early days

Reg Smith was the only son of a butcher; his childhood was spent collecting various cows, pigs and sheep from farms around the county that would then be slaughtered at his father’s butchery. Dad used to tell stories about being taken out from school in the middle of lessons to assist in driving livestock through the streets of Andover to the abattoir. This I suppose might put one off animals for life; however it had completely the opposite effect on Dad.

Reg in later life

As a boy he loved wildlife and whenever possible he would go and stay with Uncle Bob and Aunt Alice. Bob was what can only be described as a true countryman and this is where Dad’s life long passion for natural history began. Not necessarily, as you would imagine, just watching wildlife, but hunting and catching various animals for food. Bob would spend hours teaching Dad how to make traps to catch rabbits and pheasants so they could put fresh meat on the table.

Reg's wildflower meadow, planted as a tribute to Reg after his death

When Dad left school his only ambition was to become a farmer and own his own land. He persuaded his father to be guarantor at the bank, and thus had the distinction of becoming the youngest man in the parish to have a mortgage. In 1949 he bought Sarson Farm, Amport, which later was to become the home of the Trust.

If you wander around the grounds today, his legacy can be seen all around you.

Woodland grounds of the Trust planted by Reg

The trees that were planted as saplings in the 60s and 70s are now mature and give the grounds a wonderful woodland feel.

The beautiful wild flower meadow I know he would have approved of. Most importantly the formation of the Trust and the work it undertakes today would have made him a very proud man. One of his favorite quotes was “a man who has land has wealth”. Dad was indeed in that sense a very wealthy man. He inspired many young people to appreciate the wildlife around them, through his passion and enthusiasm, I was one of those of individuals and for that I will always be grateful to him.