FROM bird boxes to wildlife ponds, South West Water's hydro electric team manager in West Devon Karl Jones has always looked for ways to make his site wildlife-friendly — and now his hard work has been recognised.

Mr Jones (pictured right) was crowned environmental champion 2011 by Devon Environmental Business Initiative (DEBI) at an awards ceremony at the Met Office, Exeter, last Thursday.

He has worked at the hydro-electric sites at Mary Tavy and Morwellham for nine years and was instrumental in making the site a wildlife haven.

Starting with bat and bird boxes, he has taken advice from wildlife experts and, working with his team in spare moments, added an otter holt, dormouse boxes, hedgehog houses and boxes for a range of birds — sparrows, blue tits, robins, wrens and owls.

Mr Jones and his colleagues have created a wildlife meadow which attracts butterflies and insects and extended a wildlife pond and created a boggy area which attract dragonflies and frogs.

He also takes visitors on tours of the site and explains about how hydro-electric power works to school children.

He said: 'I'm lucky enough to work in a beautiful part of the country and the work we do is harnessing nature's power to generate electricity. It seems only fair to give something back to nature while we're at it.

'Everyone at Mary Tavy takes care of the site and it has been a real pleasure to add these enhancements for the benefit of wildlife and nature here.'

Environmental co-ordinator Cathy McGarvey, who nominated Mr Jones, said: 'One of our values at South West Water is to be champions of the environment and I see Karl doing exactly that through his work at Mary Tavy.

'He is one of our many unsung heroes who go the extra mile over and above their day job. Doing that little bit extra makes all the difference and I'm delighted that Karl has received this award.'

l Wheatland Eco Lodges and Cottage at Winkleigh won the Low Carbon Business category in the DEBI awards.