Ian Rose has a life long interest in most aspects of natural history, travelling the world to study flowers, animals and insects.  He leads fungus forays in the autumn and lectures on mushrooms and toadstools with advice on edibility. 

He has an extensive library of natural history photographs, many of which have been published in books and magazines.  He was part of the recording and publication team for "The Butterflies of Colchester and North East Essex", and also for the "Wild Flowers of North East Essex".  He tutored natural history courses for the WEA for ten years.  

John Warner has lived in the village of Assington all his life.  After a brief spell in the army, he drove heavy plant for local companies.  He has been trapping rabbits since the age of 12 and now does it, using live traps, in partnership with a butcher.