Pat Wisniewski

May 22 2008 by David Charters, Liverpool Daily Post

EVERYONE on the wetlands appreciated the knowledge and wisdom of the chap with an unpronounceable name and whiskery countenance, who had a liking for dark chocolate, but an even greater enthusiasm for newts.

As a man of modest stature and self-willed hair, he looked the part of a nature man, conscious of life all around him, including, of course, the humans, many of whom were impressed by both his specialist and general knowledge.

This was demonstrated in quizzes at the Ship Inn, on the canal banks in Burscough, and, more famously, when he led the Martin Mere Wildfowl and Wetlands’ Trust’s team, which triumphed in Granada TV’s Busman’s Holiday – winning a visit to sites in Portugal, guided by Bill Oddie, the ornithologist and former Goody.

Pat Wisniewski (pronounced Whizz-in-ski) graduated with an MSc in biology at Bangor University, where he met his wife Louise.

In 1983, he arrived at Martin Mere, Burscough, where his vast and ever-swelling knowledge of creatures winged, finned, or in wellies, was a delight to colleagues.

He wrote numerous papers about his observations, particularly of reptiles, helping some species breed for the first time in this country. He had a world-wide reputation for this work. Lizards, slow-worm and, of course, newts (about whom he wrote the definitive book Newts of the British Isles) all came into his area of expertise.

In 1991, he became centre manager, before being appointed the exhibition centre manager 15 years later.

Wild flowers were another love and he walked for miles with Louise, exploring.

Beneath the serious scientist lurked a bubbling, humorous fellow and he would dress-up for Halloween and Victorian days at the centre, always entering the spirit of an occasion.

“He was a very intelligent guy, but he could put a message over, so that it would be understood by people at all levels,” said Andy Wooldridge, the present centre manager. “If you knew the basic food chain, you would understand the full cycle of life.”

During his time as manager, Wisniewski, who lived on the site, supervised developments including and extension of the reserve from 345 to 538 acres, the longest hide in Europe, the Wetland adventure play area and floodlight viewing of swans.

His funeral is being held at St John’s Church, Burscough, at 11am tomorrow

Pat Wisniewski, naturalist; born November 11, 1954, died May 8, 2008.