Past Community and Biodiversity Awards

Community Biodiversity Awards 2019

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. These awards were generously sponsored by The Landscape Partnership; Kelling Heath Holiday Park; Norfolk Wildlife Trust; R and J Hogg and BIRDscapes art gallery. 

The Six award winners were as follows:

• Roger and Jenny Jones for their longstanding commitment to the Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Churchyard Conservation Scheme;
• Lilly Bea Beaman for her compassion and commitment to creating a sensory garden;
• Wymondham Nature Group for their longstanding and sustained commitment to raising awareness of local wildlife in the Wymondham area;
• Gemma walker for her everlasting commitment to inspiring communities to love, value, care about and protect local wildlife;
• Kate Blincoe for her inspiring campaign to save swallow nesting sites from netting;
• William Darling for his work to remove plastic and other rubbish from the broads network;

If you would like to find out more about the 2019 Community Biodiversity Awards, the nominees and the sponsors, you can view the whole awards brochure here. 

Community Biodiversity Awards 2018

12 wonderful projects and individuals were recognised at the annual Community Biodiversity Awards evening on Tuesday July 17^th 2018, with 7 overall winners.  This years awards were generously sponsored by The Landscape Partnership; Kelling Heath Holiday Park; Norfolk Wildlife Trust; R and J Hogg; The Norwich Community Green Gym and Pensthorpe Natural Park.

 2018 Award Ceremony 

The 7 winners were as follows;

• Friends of All Saints Church, Hemblington, for the innovative way they approach conservation of the local churchyards, taking professional advice and working with others;
• Friends of Cremer’s Meadow, for demonstrating how a neglected meadow can be restored to a beautiful wildlife-rich area:
• Joseph Hubbard, for his passion for biodiversity and commitment to communicating it to other young people;
• Amy Ranger, for her work to stimulate a love of nature in young children;
• Joe Harkness, for his inspiring commitment to helping people to better  health through birdwatching;
• Jane Harris, for her commitment, long service and achievements in bat conservation;
• The Friends of Horsey Seals, for their incredible commitment to and enthusiasm for protecting seals and educating the public about them.

There were many outstanding nominations and inspiring examples of community groups taking on the care for high-quality green spaces across Norfolk.  With current pressure on resources within local authorities, these community initiatives are most welcome.  Over the years many projects have benefited from the expertise, advice and encouragement from Norfolk County Council Natural Environment Team, and Norfolk Wildlife Trust.  It is thanks to them that many of the projects nominated have come to fruition.

 For more information download our 2018 Awards Brochure

Community Biodiversity Awards 2017

14 outstanding projects and individual were recognised at the annual Community Biodiversity Awards evening on 18 July 2017, which was generously sponsored by The Landscape Partnership; the Church of England (Norwich Diocese); Kelling Heath Holiday Park; and Pensthorpe Natural Park.

Community Biodiversity award 2017 winners

There were 7 winners:

• Bacton Primary School, for their work to transform an underused area of school grounds into an inspiring space for learning about the natural environment, winner of the ‘Inspiring Children and Young People’ category, sponsored by Kelling Heath Holiday Park;
• Holt Town Council , for their work to create a place of living and renewal at Holt Town Council Cemetery, winner of the ‘Churchyards and Cemeteries’ category, sponsored by The Church of England (Norwich Diocese);
• Sprowston Town Council, for their work to manage Harrison’s Wood for wildlife and public access, winner of the ‘Parish and Town Councils category’, sponsored by The Landscape Partnership;
• Clinks Care Farm, for their work to combine care for land, biodiversity and people, winner of the ‘Groups’ category sponsored by the Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership;
• Trinity Broads Volunteer Group for their impressive and sustained work to tackle varied tasks to manage the biodiversity of this wetland site, winner of the ‘Watery Wildlife and Habitats’ category sponsored by Pensthorpe Natural Park;
• Carl Sayer, for his work over many years to conserve aquatic wildlife in Norfolk, bringing together communities, scientists and landowners, winner of an ‘outstanding achievement award’ (Watery Wildlife and Habitats category);
• Helen Smith, for her work to conserve the endangered fen raft spider and for her role in establishing and running the Little Ouse Headwaters Project, winner of an ‘outstanding achievement award’ (Watery Wildlife and Habitats category).

And 7 ‘highly commended’ projects:

• Wymondham Abbey Churchyard Group for their continued work to manage the churchyard for wildlife and people (highly commended in the Churchyards and Cemeteries category);
• Saham Toney Parish Council for their enthusiasm in transforming land at the Wells Cole Community Centre for wildlife (highly commended in the ‘Parish and ‘Town Councils category’)
• Mid Norfolk Workout Group for their activity maintaining and improving habitats across the heart of Norfolk and for their public outreach (highly commended in the ‘Groups’ category)
• Scarning Conservation Volunteers for their continued work to manage Scarning Water Meadows and to enhance public access and local participation in the project (highly commended in the ‘Groups’ category);
• Aylmerton Pond Restoration Group for the group’s enthusiasm and commitment to improve the local pond at Aylmerton for wildlife and public access (highly commended in the ‘Watery Wildlife and Habitats’ category);
• Boughton Fen Committee for their hard work to manage water levels and vegetation at Boughton Fen, with great results for wildlife (highly commended in the ‘Watery Wildlife and Habitats’ category);
• Countryside Restoration Trust – Mayfields Farm for their work on ponds at Mayfields Farm, providing access and educational opportunities (highly commended in the ‘Watery Wildlife and Habitats’ category)

Read more here

Community Biodiversity Awards 2016

Norfolk’s volunteer wildlife heroes will be celebrated at a special awards event on 19 July 2016. All have gone the extra mile to work within their local community to make a difference for wildlife and people on a voluntary basis, and there are inspirational stories behind these remarkable people and groups.

Community Biodiversity Award 2016 winners

In total, awards for thirteen outstanding Norfolk conservation projects will be made.

The Norfolk Community Biodiversity Awards are an annual accolade for environmental projects in the county. Run by the Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership’s ‘Communities and Nature’ Topic Group, the awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and groups who have worked within their local community to make a difference for wildlife and people.

Biodiversity is the variety of life – and refers to the nature and wildlife found around us. A healthy natural environment – and good access to it – helps people stay healthy too.

There were many outstanding nominations and inspiring examples of community groups taking on the care for high-quality green spaces across Norfolk. With current pressure on resources within local authorities, these community initiatives are most welcome. Over the years many projects have benefitted from the expertise, advice and encouragement from Norfolk County Council Natural Environment Team, particularly Ed Stocker, and secondly, Norfolk Wildlife Trust. It is thanks to them that many of the projects nominated have come to fruition.

Inspiring winners are:

Parish and Town Councils category

• Brisley Parish Council for working with others to bring Harper’s Green and Brisley Common into positive management (Highly Commended)
• South Wootton Parish Council for connecting the community with improvements to South Wootton Park, and other biodiversity projects in the parish (Winner)

Commons and Greens category

• The Friends of Boyland Common for bringing the Common back into good management and returning it to the heart of their community (Highly Commended)
• Litcham Common Management Committee for their continuing commitment and hard work to achieve the conservation of Litcham Common (Winner)

Churchyards and Cemeteries category

• Thorpe Market Church for their long-term commitment to conserving biodiversity in their churchyard (Highly Commended)
• The Friends of Great Yarmouth Cemetery & St Nicholas Churchyard for involving their community in the care and improvement of the cemetery for wildlife and people (Winner)
• Wymondham Abbey for managing their churchyard with wildlife in mind and involving the local community in the process (Winner)

Inspiring Others category

• Eddie Anderson for his work to improve the River Mun, creating better conditions for wildlife downstream of his land, and creating a nature reserve for others to enjoy (Highly Commended)
• Geoff Doggett for his determined and inspirational leadership in developing and linking the River Waveney Trust with the wider community (Winner)

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Richard MacMullen for his work over 30 years inspiring landowners to incorporate conservation practice into their farming activities, thus improving the prospects for farmland biodiversity (Winner)

Group Award category

• Gaywood Valley Conservation Group for their passion for nature, achieving conservation, education and increased awareness of local sites (Highly Commended)
• Kenninghall Lands Trust for inspiring their community to create woodlands and an orchard for wildlife and people to enjoy (Highly Commended)
• Little Ouse Headwaters Projectfor the imaginative way they have involved and informed their community in their ambitious, large-scale conservation work in several parishes (Winner)

The presentations will be made by Steve Scott, Area Director for East and East Midlands-Forestry Commission.

Paul Holley, Chair of the NBP Communities and Nature Topic Group that organises the Awards said: “This is the thirteenth year for the Community Biodiversity Awards. Over this time we have celebrated some outstanding conservation projects and individuals who have made a real difference in their local communities. Working together on conservation projects is a great way to make a difference for wildlife alongside benefits for human health and wellbeing.”

Andrea Kelly, Chair of the Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership said: “We are delighted to have received support for our Awards from four sponsors: The Landscape Partnership; Kelling Heath Holiday Park; Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the Diocese of Norwich.”

The Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership (NBP) was established in 1996 and is a partnership of 23 partner organisations. It works through a number of ‘Topic Groups’ to enhance and conserve Norfolk’s natural heritage.

The NBP has sought to give nature a voice in Norfolk and above all, to show that the conservation of the natural environment is not an option: it is critical to our economic prosperity, our health and lifestyles. You can read more about the NBP here: www.norfolkbiodiversity.org.

The NBP’s ‘Communities and Nature’ Topic Group has an active membership drawn from many organisations including The Conservation Volunteers; Norfolk Wildlife Trust; Natural England; Norwich City Council; RSPB; local district councils and Norfolk County Council and has responsibility for the authorship of several species and habitat action plans (Biodiversity Action Plans) for the county, including swift; barn owl and allotments. The Group meets frequently to share news and ideas and to support community action for biodiversity across Norfolk. It encourages:

• a greater appreciation of nature at a local level;
• care for the natural environment at a community level;
• long-term gains for local nature sites (for example, by encouraging the development of site management plans)

Our sponsors for 2016 were: 

• Kelling Heath Holiday Park is sponsor of our Inspiring Others Award
• The Landscape Partnership (TLP) is sponsor of our Parish and Town Councils Award
• Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) is sponsor of the Churchyards and Cemeteries Award category
• The Diocese of Norwich is sponsor of the Awards evening

Our award categories:

• Parish and Town Councils – recognising those councils whose direct activities have led to improvements in local biodiversity, for example through the implementation of their statutory functions (e.g. the National Planning Policy Framework); by supporting projects that conserve biodiversity; or by promoting the importance of biodiversity conservation within their local community
• Inspiring Others – recognising those who have gone the ‘extra mile’ to bring about a wider appreciation of biodiversity. Examples could include: a school which is sharing a wildlife area with the local community; a walks leader; a business that provides a nature trail in their grounds; an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to nature conservation or biodiversity-related education;
• Best Group. This category recognises the efforts of a group which has created or organised the best project or site for biodiversity and encouraged local people to access and enjoy their local nature sites. Local groups offer one of the best ways for people to make a difference for biodiversity close to home, offering practical conservation activities and the chance to get fitter and socialise with like-minded others.
• Commons and Greens. This award recognises the efforts taken by local communities to care for commons and greens at the heart of many communities across Norfolk. When managed well, these habitats are an important resource for wildlife as well as an important amenity for recreation.
• Churchyards and Cemeteries. This award recognises action taken by local communities to care for the churchyards and cemeteries in their midst, which provides opportunities for nature to thrive and a welcoming and tranquil oasis for local people to enjoy.