A wildlife worker, a retired horticulturalist and a former chief executive of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority were among those from the county in the New Year honours list.

Maria Evans, who runs Tinker's Hill Bird of Prey and Swan Rescue Centre in Amroth, is made an MBE for services to animal health and wildlife conservation.

"It was rather a nice surprise, and I'm absolutely delighted and it's a great honour, but the big reward still comes from what I do, rescuing, rehabilitating and ultimately releasing birds back into the open, there's no price on the sort of buzz that brings," said Maria, who has been running the centre for the past 20 years with the support of her husband David after moving back to Pembrokeshire.

The centre was founded in the village of Martletwy, but moved to larger premises at Tinkers Hill Farm in Amroth, enabling Maria to expand the sanctuary's facilities and increase the number of birds they are able to take in, care for, treat and ultimately release.

She admits that the recent wintry weather has been a trying time for the centre and all the volunteers who help.

"It's been a very testing time over the past few weeks. With the winter freeze and snowstorms, we couldn't get out of the farm for six days. The rehabilitating and therapy pools which the swans use were frozen, apart from one and, of course, if they don't get to use the water, they can catch hypothermia and die, so we're delighted to see a little sunshine back this week," she explained, thanking all the people who have given their support to Tinker's Hill over the years.

Another local who was awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours list is Ian David Wilkinson, who receives his accolade for services to the community in East Williamston.

Ian, who is secretary of East Williamston Community and Hall Association and also a member of the Community Council, is a retired horticulturalist.

"It was a complete shock and surprise. I'd like to thank those that put my name forward for the award, I can't believe that they managed to keep the fact that they did from me for nearly two-and-a-half years!" he said.

Since settling into East Williamston with his family nearly 25 years ago, Ian has worked tirelessly for the village to seek out funding from various bodies for community projects, with the help of his trusty band of volunteers from the village.

Ian has led various community projects, which have included sourcing a lottery grant to build a new community hall, reclaiming an area of common land, and finding funds to buy 15 acres of agricultural land to turn into the Jubilee Park and Nature Trail, complete with woodland, wetland and children's play areas. The latter was officially opened back in 2007 by Welsh nature observer and television presenter Iolo Williams, who gave his support to the community's efforts to see Ian honoured with an MBE.

"We are all so thrilled for Ian, he has done so much for the village, he never stops planning and applying for grants, he is tireless in his efforts," explained Jennie McIntosh, a member of the East Williamston Community and Hall Association.

The Jubilee Park is used as a precious resource by many schools in the area, while agrigultural students from Pembrokeshire College have helped maintain the park as part of their course.

The park is also home to the Family Tree Scheme in which people from any part of the UK or beyond can plant a tree in its natural habitat to commemorate a family event.

Ian and other members of East Williamston Community and Hall Association have also recently completed further projects, such as creating a new children's play area in Pentlepoir and refurbishing the play area in Broadmoor.

There was an OBE awarded to former chief executive of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, Nic Wheeler, for services to the environment.

Mr. Wheeler retired from the post earlier this year after 36 years with the authority.

He was appointed National Park officer in 1974 and was the longest serving chief executive within the family of UK National Parks.

Under Mr. Wheeler's direction, the National Park as an organisation has grown from 29 people to a staff of 150, including part-time and seasonal workers. It has evolved from a department of the former Dyfed County Council to become a free-standing authority in its own right.

In more recent years, Mr. Wheeler has seen the role of the organisation expand, with a duty to look after the social and economic needs of Park communities in delivering its purposes. The authority has also become an exemplar in the delivery of climate change initiatives, helping the Welsh Assembly Government in this important work.

Current chief executive Tegryn Jones, who took over from Mr. Wheeler last year, said: "This is a very fitting honour for a lifetime's contribution to the National Park and all of us at the Park Authority are delighted for him."

Footnote: Chief Constable of Dyed Powys Police, Ian Arundale, has also received a Queen's Police Medal.