My father was my hero (pictured here with my aunt along "The Dingles" near Sarehole Mill, Birmingham).

Dad did not fight Parkinson's Disease for over twenty years, but walked with it, never allowing it to take his light, never complaining, always shining light on others. He influenced the lives of all those that were blessed by his presence, happily donating a piece of himself to light up their lives.

My father and his mother influenced every single aspect of my life.

Dad was a landscape gardener. He had the strength of Hercules!

When I was young I started going to work with him and helped him look after part of a wood at Queslett, Birmingham.

Almost 50 years later I met the volunteers who help look after the wood and surrounding Queslett Nature Reserve today.

Volunteers like Brenda, John, Bob, the late and great Keith Linnecor and their friends, help to look after Birmingham's parks, nature reserves and other green and blue spaces. These groups of caring individuals share my father's qualities; strength, passion, conviction and hearts that give freely, to protect the lungs and life sources that give Brummies their health and wellbeing across the city.

Birmingham Open Spaces Forum (BOSF) is a volunteer network organisation that supports and brings together all of the unsung heroes that add value to the city's open spaces.

My aunt agrees that dad would have wanted to help such a great cause that is driven by the hearts of ordinary people that care and want to make a difference.

Heroes never die, because they live on through our thoughts and actions.

Please consider donating to this cause to create a legacy in the name of my great hero that helps Birmingham and its people thrive through their parks and other open spaces.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.