Peterborough Buglife founder receives MBE for work with insects

14 November 2023

John Devine and Nadia GyaneBBC News, Cambridgeshire

News image — Alan Stubbs holds his MBE proudly and claims it is the first for an insect conservation organisation

John Devine/BBC Alan Stubbs holding an MBE award — Alan Stubbs holds his MBE proudly and claims it is the first for an insect conservation organisation

The founder of an insect conservation charity has received an MBE, which he claims to be the first for an organisation that cares specifically for invertebrates.

Alan Stubbs, 83, from Peterborough, founded the organisation Buglife in the city in 2002.

He was presented with the award at Buckingham Palace last week by the Princess Royal.

Mr Stubbs said: "We've succeeded in bringing it to the mainstream."

He said he was surprised by the invitation, which came "out of the blue".

"It's the first MBE for invertebrate conservation overall and has brought the subject to recognition," he said.

Buglife Mr Stubbs (centre right) with his MBE — Mr Stubbs, the vice president of Buglife, has 45 employees and four offices across the country

Mr Stubbs' love for insects started when he was five years old, after his mother told him caterpillars would turn into butterflies.

"That was a big spark," he said.

"Then I found a woolly bear caterpillar and that turned into a fly, and it turned out mother doesn't know everything."

Buglife Violet Oil Beetle — Buglife started the great oil beetle hunt citizen science project, which led to the rediscovery of two lost species

Mr Stubbs opened the first Buglife office, which was originally called The Invertebrate Conservation Trust, on Ham Lane in Peterborough in 2002, before moving to Allia Future Business Centre on London Road.

He is currently the vice president and has 45 employees and four offices across the country, along with an operation in Northern Ireland.

Mr Stubbs calls himself the spokesperson for invertebrates and said it was "important they had a voice".

"We've got over 30,000 species in Britain," he said.

"They were the forgotten part of wildlife because having so many species is very difficult for most people to get their mind around what is involved."