Norfolk Community Biodiversity Awards 2024
The winners have been announced for the 2024 Norfolk Community Biodiversity Awards
This year there were 26 entries for the six award categories and the judges had a very hard task commenting that “each entry is commendable, they all deserve an award”. The awards were presented alongside guest speakers and a daytime outreach event at the Forum in Norwich. Here are this years Winners and Runners up.:
The Young People's Achievement Award
This award is for individual young people under 25 whose efforts contribute to recording, understanding or action to benefit nature and biodiversity. Young people hold the key to the future for our wildlife so we are looking for those who are inspirational. This award was kindly sponsored by Lanpro.
The winner of the 2024 Young Peoples Achievement Award is The Orchard Committee at Northgate High School, Dereham. This group have taken over an outside area at their school, and dedicated their own time and effort, outside of lesson time, to create wildlife habitats and an orchard.
Northgate school representatives reiving their award from Hannah Broughton from Lanpro
The Saving Species Award
This award recognises individual or group efforts to improve the situation for wildlife species or species groups. With so many species in rapid decline action is needed at every level. The judges were looking for activities that directly benefit species populations or a specific habitat they rely on. The Saving Species Award was kindly sponsored by the RSPB.
The runner up in this category is Andrew Crean for his initiative in creating habitat and a breeding programme for Ruffs
Phillip Pearson of the RSPB presenting the 2024 Saving Species runner up certificate.
The winner in the 2024 Saving Species Category is Kath Warner for her long-term commitment to recording in the Broads
Phillip Pearson of the RSPB presenting the 2024 Saving Species Winner certificate
The Spaces for Nature Award
This award celebrates spaces within communities for nature and people, whether large or small. This might be enhancing existing spaces or creating new ones. Action at a local level, by local people is vital to ensure a brighter future for biodiversity. This award was kindly sponsored by Norfolk Wildlife Trust.
Competition was strong in this category resulting in 2 joint runners up. The first is West Beckham Old Allotments for the transformation in diversity of their site,
Gemma Walker presenting the Space for nature award to West Beckham Old Allotments.
The second runner up is The Sustead Cluster for the range of improvements to neglected inaccessible sites
Gemma Walker presenting the Space for nature award to the Sustead cluster
The winner of the Spaces for Nature category in 2024 is Rollesby Community Wood for involving their community in creating a new woodland. Unfortunately this group could not attend the award evening and have received their award in the post.
The Nature for Health & Wellbeing Award
This category celebrates people or projects that benefit individuals in terms of improved health and wellbeing as a direct result of bringing people and nature together. The judges were looking for initiatives that benefit biodiversity in the community or our knowledge of it. This category is sponsored by Gressenhall Environmental Hub .
The runner up in the 2024 Nature for Health and Wellbeing category is Gill Jinkerson for championing inclusion and biodiversity initiatives.
Ben Earle presenting the Nature for health and wellbeing runner up award to Gill Jinkerson
The winner of the Nature for Health & Wellbeing category is Grapes Hill Community Garden in Norwich for their community centred approach and inclusivity
Ben Earle presenting the Nature for Health and Wellbeing Award to winners, Grapes Hill Community Garden.
The Groups Award
This Award recognises the achievements of groups working on biodiversity projects in their local community. Local groups inspire people to recognise and care for their local biodiversity and bring people together to work with a common purpose. The judges were looking for achievements for the group, as well as for wildlife and habitats. This award is kindly sponsored by Clarion Housing.
The runner up in the Groups category is the South Yare Wildlife Group for their commitment and inspiration to others
Tracy Thompson presenting the Groups award runner up certificate to South Yare Wildlife Group.
The winner of the Groups category is The Felbeck Trust for their inspirational and comprehensive approach to supporting action and for the achievements that have resulted.
Tracy Thompson presenting the Groups award winners certificate to Felbeck Trust.
The Rivers and Wetlands Award
This award celebrates groups or individuals who have inspired people to connect with their local river and wetland ecosystems. The judges were looking for activities that have helped communities understand the important role of Norfolk’s river catchments in supporting biodiversity. This award is kindly sponsored by Norfolk Rivers Trust.
There were two joint winners in this category, Dr Ian Shepherd for his long-term commitment to the wellbeing of the River Glaven who could not attend the awards evening to receive his award and has received it directly and SWAMP [Sustainable Work at Morston pond] for their creativity and community involvement
Ed Bramham-Jones presenting the joint winners River and Wetlands Award to SWAMP
Alongside the sponsored awards categories, this year we also celebrated a lifetime achievement award- which as presented to Chris Knights for his unwavering dedication to protecting Norfolks habitats and Stone Curlews.
Nick Acheson presenting the lifetime achievement award to Chris Knights.
The Community Biodiversity Awards will be returning in 2025, with a new batch of deserving volunteers and projects. Please check back on this website nearer to the time to find out how you can nominate them and show your support.