Ranger’s family pride at former colliery

Mick Birkinshaw’s blood connections with the former Monckton Colliery and Royston Drift Mine, now Rabbit Ings Country Park in Royston, South Yorkshire, date back to the 1890s.

More than a century later, Mr Birkinshaw, who is himself a former miner, having worked at the nearby South Kirkby Colliery, is now responsible for managing the 66-hectare country park for the community on behalf of national charity, the Land Trust.

He claimed the award for his work as ranger against competition from across the country, and received it from the Land Trust during a scrub clearance event with volunteers yesterday.

“My great grandad Garner actually walked to Royston from Birmingham in the 1890s to work at the pit here and my granddad was born in Royston in 1897 and most of my family were miners in this area,” he said. “I have a sense of pride knowing they worked under the very ground where I stand and I often wonder what they’d think if they saw the site as it is today and could see people enjoying a beautiful green space.”

Euan Hall, chief executive of the Land Trust, said: “Mick is a fantastic ranger and an amazing bloke, his enthusiasm for the park is seemingly unending and he passes this on to every visitor.”