RETIRED banker James Donald will be jetting off to Ecuador for an expedition of a lifetime after winning an Earthwatch Millennium Award

The 51-year-old chairman of Wycombe Wildlife Group will be embarking on the project 'Operation Caterpillars' on Wednesday, June 13, after his bid for the award impressed Millennium Commission judges.

Mr Donald will travel with other award winners and leading scientists from the charity Earthwatch as they set out to study the dynamics of the endangered South American rainforest.

It is hoped that award winners will use their experience abroad to set up a community environmental project on their return and the proposed Wycombe Rye Environment Centre looks set to benefit from his trip.

Mr Donald said: "There are some rather loose plans at the moment to set up an environment centre so I will be working with that organising wildlife trails or other nature projects."