Volunteer

The Nature Conservancy is honored to present Clyde Mellin with the 2020 Delaware Volunteer Spotlight Award. We sincerely appreciate all that Clyde has done to support TNC's efforts in southern Delaware over the last 20+ years. We continue to be inspired by people like Clyde, who care so much about protecting our lands and waters for the benefit of people and nature.

"Clyde has kept a watchful eye on Middleford North Preserve for more than 20 years," said Land Steward Natasha Whetzel. "He is an all-star volunteer. We can’t thank him enough."

A lifelong resident of western Sussex County, Clyde Mellin grew up near the headwaters of the Nanticoke River where he spent countless days exploring the nearby swamps and the wooded hillsides beyond the sandy riverbanks.

“My interest in conservation started very early, having been brought up in a family that was close to wildlife and the outdoors,” said Clyde. “Lots of hunting, fishing and learning to appreciate nature and its vulnerabilities. This enabled and encouraged me to study the river's hydrology and its environmental impacts throughout my entire life."

As a neighbor of TNC’s Middleford North Preserve, Clyde has helped keep a watchful eye on the property for more than 20 years. Land Steward Natasha Whetzel noted that Clyde’s knowledge of the natural history of the area has been an invaluable resource, in addition to countless hours he has volunteered performing a wide variety of tasks, from planting trees to helping with construction projects.

“He maintains signage, mows trails, builds and installs bluebird boxes, and is also working on bat boxes to install,” Natasha reported. “A few years ago, he worked with 4H students to build and install 10 bluebird boxes. We’re so thankful to have him as a volunteer.”

Clyde also has the rare distinction of being one of the lucky few people who has positively identified the globally-rare Hessel’s hairstreak butterfly, a favorite species of his, at the Middleford North Preserve. The larvae of this small, green, black and white butterfly are totally dependent on the Atlantic white cedar (Clyde’s favorite tree species) as its food source.

Once widespread across the Delmarva and coastal areas, the Atlantic white cedar tree is now uncommon, due to over-harvesting by European settlers who used the prized wood to construct homes and boats. Luckily, pockets of Atlantic white cedar forests remain, including at our Middleford North Preserve. The Hessel’s hairstreaks spend nearly their whole life among the upper branches of the cedars, so sightings of them are a rare and treasured.

Clyde has many reasons for volunteering for TNC, and he remains motivated by reflecting on the positive long-term impact that he, and other volunteers, have had on the land and wildlife. Those volunteer efforts include thousands of trees planted across Sussex County—from Milford Neck to Middleford North. Many oak trees at Middleford North were hand planted as acorns by Clyde and his brother. He also played a big role in the Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Program activities at the Edward H. McCabe Preserve.

“From protecting sensitive lands to TNC’s reforestation programs, it makes me feel very good to be a small link in such a successful chain,” Clyde observed. “I would highly recommend volunteering a day to nature. It has certainly inspired me.”