PIONEERING ECOLOGIST PETE COOPER RETURNS TO SYMONDS FOR AWARDS
Peter Symonds College, Winchester, celebrated the academic and personal achievements of the 2026 cohort at its recent Awards Evening, welcoming back alumnus and renowned ecologist, Pete Cooper, almost 15 years after he left the College. Pete is at the forefront of species reintroduction and rewilding projects and has pioneered work to captive-breed and reintroduce glowworms to the Nosterfield reserve after a century absence.
More than 70 students received awards recognising academic excellence, participation in college life, contribution to the community and overcoming personal challenges.
Reflecting on the journey of the 2024-2026 cohort, Principal Sara Russell paid tribute to the students for their hard work and achievements, while also recognising the important role played by their families, College staff and wider communities in supporting them. She spoke of the students’ curiosity and passion, and the importance of ensuring that their time at the College equips them for more than academic success.
Sara said: “It is a huge honour to celebrate the achievements of our 2024–2026 students. Their success is a testament to the commitment, perseverance and determination demonstrated throughout their time here and I am thrilled to see their hard work recognised. While we are extremely proud of our prize winners, every student should be proud of what they have achieved and the goals they have worked so hard to reach.
“At Peter Symonds, we want to nurture more than academic success. We want our young people to leave us as confident, thoughtful and open-minded individuals who are ambitious for their futures and ready to embrace the challenges ahead. Their resilience, curiosity and determination will serve them well as they take their next steps and make their own positive contribution to the wider world, as Pete has.”
Since leaving Symonds, Pete has built an impressive career in modern conservation, working on pioneering projects involving glowworms, harvest mice, wildcats and other threatened species. Now a Species Recovery Manager with The Wildlife Trusts, Pete combines his research with practical work on species translocation. He continues to help develop the science and techniques needed to restore threatened species and support the recovery of wildlife across Britain.
Pete took A levels in Philosophy, Biology and English Literature, and completed an EPQ in 2010 - 2012. He progressed to the University of Exeter where he read Zoology. His career highlights the varied paths taken by Symonds alumni and demonstrates how an early interest in the natural world can develop into a lifelong commitment to conservation.
In attendance were students, their families, staff, award sponsors, college governors and VIPs associated with the College’s history.
Posted: 8 October 2026
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