A 73-year-old woman who has received the MBE for services to wildlife and conservation in the Island said she is "overwhelmed" by the honour.

Jean Buck, of Andreas, has been involved with the Manx Wildlife Trust since she first came to the Island 17 years ago.

At that time she served as a volunteer co-ordinator and has carried out projects for the organisation as well as helping to raise funds for it over the years.

Mrs Buck said: "There are a lot of people who have done just as much as I have."

She moved to the Island from Tonbridge in Kent due to her passion for conservation.

She said about her move to the Island "You could still stand somewhere and see nothing but green" and "you didn't hear the traffic on a motorway. I thought 'this place is idyllic"'.

Mrs Buck said she has always been aware how important it is to protect Manx wildlife for the future.

As well as her interest in conservation she is the publicity officer for the Mannin Art Group - which celebrated its 60th anniversary this year - and is involved with the Mann 050 retirement organisation.

And though she is delighted with her MBE she very nearly didn't keep the letter which told her she was to receive the honour.

"I was completely and utterly surprised, I thought it was a joke, I was about to throw it away," she said.

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