Past Community Biodiversity Awards

2019 Community Biodiversity Awards Recipients

The 2019 Community Biodiversity Awards 

On Tuesday 16th July the 2019 Community Biodiversity Awards were celebrated by more that 65 people. The evening featured a buffet, live music and a wonderful opportunity for networking and meeting other like-minded people. A total of 12 awards were given out on the evening to a wide variety of individuals and groups for their valuable efforts to improve the Biodiversity of Norfolk. 

Award Recipients 2019

Young People's Achievement: This award is for individuals under 18* or those that enable young people to make a personal contribution to nature and biodiversity.  Young people hold the key to the future for our wildlife so their understanding and appreciation of nature is vital.   We were looking for those who are inspirational or who have inspired others to achieve these qualities. Sponsored by Kelling Heath Holiday Park.

For his work to use outdoor learning to impact young people interpretation and understanding of nature, Joseph Zilch was presented with the Highly Commended award. 

Maddie Goodall receiving Josephs award (Photo credit: Keiron Tovell)

The winner of the Young Peoples award for his work to remove plastic and other rubbish from the broads network was William Darling. 

William Darling (Photo credit: Keiron Tovell)

Saving Species: This award recognises individual or group efforts to improve the lot of wildlife species or species groups.  With so many plants and animals (even once common ones) in rapid decline, action is needed at every level to avoid further decline and possible extinction.  We were looking for activities that directly benefited species populations or a specific habitat they rely on. Sponsored by BIRDscapes Gallery. 

For her inspiring campaign to save swallow nesting sites from netting, Kate Blincoe won the saving species category.

Steve Harris of BIRDscapes Gallery and Kate Blincoe (Photo credit: Keiron Tovell)

Churchyards and Cemeteries: This award recognises action to care for churchyards and cemeteries so that they provide opportunities for nature to thrive as well as being a welcoming and tranquil oasis for people.  In many churchyards, grassland is an important habitat, walls and stones are our rock faces.  We were looking for activities that have created living churchyards, important stepping stones for biodiversity as well as places for reflection and remembrance. Sponsored by R & J Hogg Ltd. 

For managing the old and new churchyards with wildlife and people in mind, the Volunteers of Scole Nature Trails Trust received the Highly Commended award.

The Volunteers of Scole Nature Trails Trust (Photo credit: Keiron Tovell)

For their longstanding commitment to the Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Churchyard Conservation Scheme Roger and Jenny Jones won the Churchyards and Cemeteries category.

Roger and Jenny Jones (Photo credit: Keiron Tovell)

Nature for Health and Wellbeing: This award recognises the benefits for individuals in terms of improved health and wellbeing as a direct result of activities that bring people and nature together.  We know contact with nature is good for both mental and physical health but we were looking for activities that go further to also benefit biodiversity in the community or our knowledge of it.  Sponsored by Pensthorpe Natural Park. 

For her compassion and commitment to creating a sensory garden, Lilly Bea Beaman won the Nature for Health & Wellbeing Category.

Deb Jordan from Pensthorpe Natural park and Category Winner Lilly Bea Beaman (Photo credit: Keiron Tovell) 

Groups: This award recognises the achievements of groups working on biodiversity projects in their local community.  Local groups can inspire people to recognise and care for their local biodiversity while providing the chance to get together and work with a common purpose.  We were looking for results for participants and the group as a whole, as well as those achieved for wildlife and habitats. Sponsored by The Landscape Partnership.

For taking ownership and managing a much-loved riverside beauty spot for the community and wildlife, Falcon Meadow Community Trust received the Highly Commended award for the Groups category.

Falcon Meadow Community Trust (Photo credit: Keiron Tovell) 

Snettisham Parish Council also received a highly commended award in this category for their work to improve Snettisham Common for wildlife. 

Snettisham Parish Council (Photo credit: Keiron Tovell)

Hardings Pit Community Association were awarded a Special award in the groups category for their sustained commitment to the challenges of managing and improving the site for all to enjoy.

Hardings Pit Community Association (Photo credit: Keiron Tovell)

The Winner of the groups category was Wymondham Nature Group for their longstanding and sustained commitment to raising awareness of local wildlife in the Wymondham area.

Wymondham Nature Group (Photo Credit: Keiron Tovell) 

 

Above and beyond: This award recognises efforts by professionals that go above and beyond their paid hours to engage with communities and volunteers to bring about gains for biodiversity. Sponsored by the Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership.

For her everlasting commitment to inspiring communities to love, value, care about and protect local wildlife, Gemma walker was the winner of the Above and Beyond category.

David North, Chair of the Community and Nature Topic Groups and Gemma Walker (Photo credit: Keiron Tovell)

Future Awards
If you have been inspired by the winners of the 2019 Community Biodiversity awards and would like to make a nomination for the 2020 awards, NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN, and can be made HERE