The Revd. Tom Gladwin is 'a Hertfordshire hedgehog'. He was not only born and bred in Hertfordshire, but has also spent most of his adult life living in Digswell with his wife Janet.

Fascinated by the living world since childhood, he is one of our county's most distinguished natural historians. Together with Trevor James and Graham White, he was instrumental in ensuring that former gravel workings at Amwell in the Lee Valley were turned into an exceptional wildlife reserve. He was the co-author, with Bryan Sage, of Birds of Hertfordshire (1986) which remained the county's pre-eminent bird guide for many years. He also co-authored Dragonflies and Damselflies of Hertfordshire (2008), reporting with Alan Reynolds and Christine Shepperson on the first countywide survey. In 2010 he won the HNHS's prestigious 1875 Award for an outstanding Hertfordshire naturalist.

To help celebrate the Society's 150th anniversary, Tom sat down with Tim Hill to record three short excerpts from his memoirs:

In 'A Hertfordshire Hedgehog' he reflects on the wildlife and habitat changes of a lifetime.

He also takes us on a vivdly imagined spring walk at Amwell.

Finally he provides a succinct and insightful account of the inter-connected roles of natural historians, ecologists and conservationists.