The 22-year-old was announced the exceptional volunteer in the 16-25-year-old category in the recent Volunteer Centre Borders awards and he was also presented with a certificate marking his 200 hours of volunteering.

Bryn, who has Down syndrome, told us: “I was very excited and really pleased.”

The brother of Scotland internationalist Geoff Cross, Bryn has been helping the countryside rangers at Buccleuch Estate for almost three years.

Bryn, said: “I like to help at Bowhill because it is good fun and I meet and work with nice people.”

He and three others from Reiver Industries go to the estate with employment support worker, Alan Philip.

Bryn said: “We do lots of different things. I help to clear up leaves and litter in front of the main house in the autumn. We put up fences. We dig trenches for the pipe to put the (fibre optic) cable through for the cameras in the bird boxes. We are clearing a trail for mountain bikes. We have planted a hedge. I talk to Lynsey (Menmuir, countryside ranger) who works there. I like her.”

And he continued: “I learn about how to do different tasks. People tell me and show me what needs to be done and then I just do it. Alan is there with me too.”

The team have also carried out fencing and made several paths.

“One of the biggest jobs we’ve been doing is restoring an old Victorian water garden that was completely overgrown with bamboo,” said Mr Philip.

They hacked down the 10ft plants before digging out the roots and lining the pond – and it has, so far, been a two to three-year project.

Mr Philip said: “It’s so quiet and peaceful and there’s also the fresh air. There’s a real element of teamwork involved in it and Bryn is the young man of the team.

“He enjoys the work. He’s fairly verbal and he loves getting on with the other people. The work is as much good for his physical health as his mental health.”

Concerning the award, Mr Philip said: “It’s fantastic for us at Reiver Industries because any sort of publicity is good – and when he came in with the award – well, it’s just a great place to be when something like that happens. It’s almost like an award for the rest of his team, too.”

Bowhill countryside ranger Lynsey Menmuir said: “Bryn’s a character and all the volunteers who come to Bowhill play a massive part in the running of the place.

“They are the rangers’ left-hand men and women. When we are busy with the public and schools, the volunteers get on with a lot of the work.

“They do a lot of good work and they would be sadly missed if there was ever a day they couldn’t come back out to us. They would be a big miss to Bowhill as a place, but also as part of the team here.”

And she added: “Alan has been instrumental in Bryn’s progress and improvement as a volunteer at Bowhill.”

Of his work at Bowhill, Bryn said: “It is good to be able to help. I like being outside with the others.