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This site is a tribute to Richard Hearn, 1971 - 2024

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Help grow Rich's tribute by adding messages or memories you'd like to share.

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Thanks for always supporting the learning team when we needed you. You are very much missed.

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

I first met Rich when I joined the staff of WWT in 1999. We were a similar age and stage in our careers and worked on many projects together, including cannon-netting geese in Northern Ireland, writing up waterbirds monitoring projects, and ringing ducks at Slimbridge. He was always a joy to work with and our trips to conferences together were always full of fun (being chased down the road in Quebec for a bar tip was a classic!). The last work we did together was to influence some big decisions at the last Ramsar Conference of Parties in Switzerland. He couldn't attend due to his health but he was firing through vital information from afar. I will miss Rich greatly but I am privileged to have known him and learned so much from him. Rest in peace.

James Robinson (and Lorraine Chivers)

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

What a lovely, generous, clever, committed and down-right hilarious guy he was. Will miss him loads.

In Kuwait setting up the first official International Waterbird Census. I was so grateful for his invaluable support and humour on that trip!

Our first taste of birding in Kuwait. Learned so much from Rich on that trip 😊

Rich and I were petrified to come across this guy in someone's garden in Kuwait in 2014 (it was real!) and thought we were going to get munched. We still had a laugh about it just months before Rich passed

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

I will walk to a wetland and raise a glass to you tonight Rich. Your mischievous grin will be missed around site but you've inspired so many your legacy will live on. xx

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Thanks Rich for your enthusiasm, support and humour. You are much missed but your legacy lives on xx

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

It was a privilege to have worked along side Rich at WHCT God Bless Rich Hearn

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Celebrating Rich’s life and legacy

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Fond memories of happy visits to The Solent, Iceland & Portugal for godwits, brent, wigeon and friendship! Thank you.

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Rich, we have been astounded by all the tributes left, highlighting just how highly thought of you were in the world of conservation, something you totally played down to your family. To us, you were a loving, funny and caring brother and uncle, who is sorely missed and will never be forgotten. 💔

Sarah, Ian, Chloe, Freddie & Taiya

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

In loving memory X

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Richard was probably the person who has had the biggest impact in my career. And unfortunately, I don't think he knew how grateful I have always been for the opportunities he gave me.

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

So saddened to hear of Rich passing. Love and thoughts are with you Becca and family xx

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Remembering an avian and conservation superstar. RIP.

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Donated on behalf of Rich, using his money, as I’m sure he would have wanted.

Rich taking his niece, Chloe, on a sea fishing trip.

Rich getting his nephew Freddie in training.

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

A small donation in memory of a giant of nature conservation and dear friend & travelling companion - thanks for all the good times Rich till we meet again.

Pete & Kathryn Potts

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Given anonymously

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Given anonymously

£25.00 + £6.25 Gift Aid

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

£100.00 + £25.00 Gift Aid

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

For Rich - not only renowned across Eurasia for his contributions to waterbird conservation - but a total joy to work with!

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Always remembered x

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

A conservation legend and a wonderful human. Thinking of you Becca and all Rich’s friends and family

Soph, James and Tina

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

For Beccy for Rich

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Dear Beccy, I am so very sorry for your loss. Sending much love, Claire

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Rich, a true waterbird champion and a lovely man.

Tony Richardson

Added by Rebecca

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Rich you were amazing, we miss you so much.

Matt, Beck and Freya xxx

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

So glad we had Rich as a Neighbour. Genuine and just about all things in our natural world. Wicked sense of humour, to make us chuckle in the best and worst of times.

Becca, George, Lyra and Aoife

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

I never met Rich but speaking with friends his passing was very sad and a massive loss to wetland conservation.

Rich in Sweden on one of our bike camp trips. This one was pretty special because we toured the archipelago. This night we stayed in a shed in the middle of the forest.

Seaduck catching in Iceland, June 2011. Rich had us all in stitches :-)

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

I was one of Rich's many best mates. I first met him in the early 1990s and was honoured to give him his first job in 1993. Working on introduced North American Ruddy Ducks as part of the first UK Ruddy Duck control trial. We then lived together for about ten years until I got married. I have gazillions of happy memories of Rich. Both of our work together and the various adventures we got up to. He was an exceptional conservationist and always put 150% effort into everything. I have such happy memories of our trips away together. He was a very good friend to me and helped me through some hard times, always very understanding and, importantly to me, with a smile on his face. I am proud to call him a best friend. It is humbling, but entirely expected, to read all the messages about him that are being posted on social media. He was also a naughty man and I loved spending time with him. Whether that be ringing, working or drinking too much!!! I am so, so, so sorry he has been taken from us all so early. It's not fair. My thoughts are with Becca and all those close to him. He was an utter megastar. RIP Richy-Rich. Lots of love Baz xxx

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With love from Jennie and Jane xx

Jennie Hall & Jane Glastonbury

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With love and happy memories. X

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A true enthusiast sadly lost too soon

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

A huge loss to conservation, and the many he touched. Missing you Rich.

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Remembering many happy memories. Gone far too soon.

Ewan, Jenny and Piper Weston

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

To help Rich's efforts to have even more impact

Ward Hagemeijer

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Desperately sad to lose Rich so early. He was a joy to work with - genuinely passionate about waterbirds and their habitats and with an infectious enthusiasm and energy that touched everyone he met. Through his role as Global Coordinator for the Baer's Pochard Task Force, he made a huge impact and the current protection and management in favour of Baer's Pochard at Hengshui Lake in Hebei Province, one of the most important sites for this critically endangered duck, simply would not have happened without him. I know that many people in China, and indeed the region, will miss him greatly, not least me, for whom he was a major influence, an inspiration and a valued friend. RIP Rich.

Terry Townshend

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Only nephew, gone too soon but any bird song will bring memories of you. So sorry Becca.

Auntie Val and Brian

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Was great to have known Rich. He left far too early. We didn't cross paths too often, but he was great company when we did. A wonderful person and a real expert in his (wet) field.

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

He was such a generous and kind man, I will miss him

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Given anonymously

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

In memory of Rich, a great human being.

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

In loving memory of Rich xx

Ruth Middlemiss

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Rich, thanks for being a good model for bird conservation.

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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Given anonymously