John Barrett (conservationist)
Encyclopedia
John Henry Barrett MBE was a pioneering conservationist, author and broadcaster.
Born in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, John lived in Pembrokeshire for 50 years. He read Economics and Geography at Cambridge University and was the first Warden at Dale Fort Field Centre. He was appointed Minister's Nominee to the Fledgling Pembrokeshire National Park, initiated the Guided Walks, fought for the Coastal Path (he wrote the HMSO guide to the path) and served on the Park Committee for twenty five years.
and George Waterston
. In their company John developed his life long interest in birds, which later he turned to such good use in Wales. These four recorded migration pattterns and the minutiae of tree sparrow and chaffinch nesting behaviour.
was established as a centre for the study of marine biology with Skokholm flourishing as a bird Observatory.
He established the Pembrokeshire Countryside Unit in Broad Haven in 1968 and ran guided walks along the coastal footpaths.
Barrett, J.H. & Nimmo, M. Flowers of the Coast Path (Pembrokeshire Coast National Park subject Guide)
Barrett, J.H. Seashore (1960) Collins.
Barrett, J.H. Life on the Seashore (Countryside)(1974). Collins
Barrett, J.H. Dale Peninsula (Pembrokeshire Coast National Park area guide) (1986)
Barrett, J.H. A Plain Man's Guide to the path round the Dale Peninsula (1966)
Barrett, J.H. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path (1979)
Born in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, John lived in Pembrokeshire for 50 years. He read Economics and Geography at Cambridge University and was the first Warden at Dale Fort Field Centre. He was appointed Minister's Nominee to the Fledgling Pembrokeshire National Park, initiated the Guided Walks, fought for the Coastal Path (he wrote the HMSO guide to the path) and served on the Park Committee for twenty five years.
Second World War
Before the war, John joined the RAF and served with Bomber Command reaching the rank of Wing Commander. During the early part of the war he was shot down and became a prisoner-of-war. The next years were spent in a succession of prisoner-of-war camps across Germany and Poland; Oflag VIB (Warburg), Oflag XXI (Schubin), Stalag Luft II (Sagan) (where he was part of the support team for the 'Wooden Horse' escape)and Stalag IIIa (Luckenwalde). It was in the large Oflag at Doessel bei Warburg, that John met up with John Buxton, Peter ConderPeter Conder
Peter Conder, OBE was a British ornithologist and conservationist known predominantly for his contribution as Director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.-Early life:...
and George Waterston
George Waterston
George Waterston was an ornithologist and conservationist in Scotland. He was Director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in Scotland. He lived at 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh where he co-founded what was the Midlothian Ornithologists' Club and is now the Scottish Ornithologists'...
. In their company John developed his life long interest in birds, which later he turned to such good use in Wales. These four recorded migration pattterns and the minutiae of tree sparrow and chaffinch nesting behaviour.
Post war
In 1947 he became the Warden of Dale Fort Field Centre which included the Skokholm Bird Observatory. Dale FortDale Fort
Dale Fort is a battery site to the West of Milford Haven, Wales.Occupied from Elizabethan times to the present day, the main buildings were built for the military protection of Milford Haven in the 1850s, but the most unusual feature is its use for trials of Edmund Zalinski's Pneumatic Dynamite Gun...
was established as a centre for the study of marine biology with Skokholm flourishing as a bird Observatory.
He established the Pembrokeshire Countryside Unit in Broad Haven in 1968 and ran guided walks along the coastal footpaths.
Books
Barrett, J.H. & Young, C.M. (1958). Collins Pocket Guide to the Seashore. Collins LondonBarrett, J.H. & Nimmo, M. Flowers of the Coast Path (Pembrokeshire Coast National Park subject Guide)
Barrett, J.H. Seashore (1960) Collins.
Barrett, J.H. Life on the Seashore (Countryside)(1974). Collins
Barrett, J.H. Dale Peninsula (Pembrokeshire Coast National Park area guide) (1986)
Barrett, J.H. A Plain Man's Guide to the path round the Dale Peninsula (1966)
Barrett, J.H. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path (1979)