Press Release

Press Release Archive: Wednesday 21 January 2009

Entries sought for Lincolnshire’s awards for environmental excellence

The search is on to find Lincolnshire's top environmental businesses, farmers, communities, clubs, schools and individuals.

The Lincolnshire Environmental Awards and Lincolnshire Young Environmentalist Awards are designed to recognise and celebrate the inspiring activities that are helping to improve the environment and encourage sustainability. The Awards are open to anyone who is making a positive contribution to the environment and sustainable development in Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North-East Lincolnshire. The deadline for entries is 30 April 2009. Chairman of the Award scheme and Lindum Rotary Club member, Roger Pavey said: "The awards are a great way to share good ideas, get recognition for hard work and celebrate environmental action. A very diverse range of people enter the awards, previous winners include Grantham Angling Association and The EPIC Centre. Last year the overall winner was Doddington Hall and Gardens." Claire Birch, owner of Doddington Hall commented: "We were extremely proud to be the overall winner at last year's Lincolnshire Environmental Awards, as being eco-responsible is something close to our heart here at Doddington. But for us the recognition was a chance to show others what can be done, and how being environmentally-friendly is a sensible business choice. Our customers have loved the Award as well, and take great interest in what we consider to be a shared success." It is easy to enter the awards. Entries can be for projects that have just started or ones that have been running for some time. They can be in town or country, wide ranging or focused on a single issue. All you need to do is write 200 - 300 words describing your project and how it contributes to the environment. Completed entries together with a covering letter including a contact name and telephone number should be forwarded no later than 30 April 2009 to: Lincolnshire Environmental Awards c/o Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Banovallum House Manor House Street Horncastle Lincolnshire LN9 5HF The written entries are assessed by a panel of judges which includes experts from around the county, shortlisted entrants are visited by a judge during May for a short discussion and tour as appropriate. The finalists will be invited to present their entries on Thursday 11 June 2009 to the final judging panel led by Professor David Bellamy who, after many years, continues to be an enthusiastic supporter of the young environmentalist awards as well as the adult groups.  For inspiration and encouragement to enter this year, see the details of previous winners on the Lincolnshire Environmental Awards website   Further details, including conditions of entry, can also be found on the website and in the leaflet available from the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.

Notes to editors

1. Lincolnshire Environmental Awards and the Lincolnshire Young Environmentalist Awards are sponsored by Huntsman Tioxide and WREN. The Patrons of the Awards are: Professor David Bellamy, Rt. Rev. John Saxbee, Bishop of Lincoln and Mr Tony Worth, Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire.  Visit www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk
   
   
2. LINCOLNSHIRE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD OVERALL WINNER 2008: Doddington Hall and Gardens.
   Since taking over the running of the family home and gardens of Doddington Hall in 2005, Claire and James Birch have been determined to be as environmentally friendly as they can be. They have resurrected the walled kitchen garden and brought it back into production, growing fruit and vegetables organically and using heritage varieties; as an outlet for the garden’s produce and a centre for other locally sourced produce, they have developed a farm shop and café, with a building that collects rainwater for use in the garden and toilets, and uses natural ventilation and low energy appliances as widely as possible; local schools are involved with their own plots in the garden and a variety of events are held. The entire oil-fired heating and hot water system for the hall, farm shop & café, plus seven other buildings has also been converted to a carbon neutral wood-chip heating system which uses thinnings and dead wood from the estate. One of the most remarkable outcomes is that for the first time in a generation, there are a growing number of residents in the village who actually work in some capacity on the estate.
   
   Business Winner 2008:  The EPIC Centre, Lincolnshire Agricultural Society 
   The EPIC Centre is the focal point of the Lincolnshire EPIC Project.  Designed to be the most sustainable of buildings, the EPIC Centre showcases innovation, low carbon technologies and responses to global warming. Dr Nick Cheffins, Project Director, The Epic Project, said: "Winning this award is an absolutely brilliant recognition of the amazing team effort and a real addition to our credentials." 
   
   Individual Winner 2008:  Pat O’Carroll, Greenheart  
   For seven years Pat O’Carroll has been involved in green woodworking and traditional woodland crafts; teaching and demonstrating to community groups and schools. To enhance this, he has recently set up a social enterprise called Greenheart which works within schools and clubs to teach shelter building and wilderness skills and to increase awareness of ecological issues and sustainable development. Pat O’Carroll said: "We’re really chuffed to have won and been involved with such a high calibre of entrants. It will help us take Greenheart further."
   
   Community Winner 2008:  Grantham Angling Association 
   Over the last ten years or so habitat restoration projects by the Grantham Angling Association has returned the Upper River Witham near Grantham to the state it would have been in a hundred years ago benefiting the rare white clawed crayfish, water vole and native brown trout. Colin Hides said: "We sometimes feel like we are ploughing a lonely furrow and are very pleased that people feel we are doing a worthwhile job. It gives us encouragement for the future." 
   
   LINCOLNSHIRE YOUNG ENVIRONMENTALIST AWARD 2008: North Kesteven School Eco Committee 
   The Eco Committee at North Kesteven School won the Lincolnshire Young Environmentalist Award 2008 for their commitment to making being eco-friendly a way of life at the school. Awards judge, Julie Crowson, commented: "It’s extremely difficult to judge such diversity of entrants but the commitment and dedication of the children at North Kesteven School really shines through and the evidence of what they are doing is all over the school." The children were shocked to have won and hope that wining will encourage others at the school to get involved with their varied green projects which include an eco-garden, recycling, walk to school week, as well as monitoring their carbon footprints and setting targets for reduction.
   
   
3. Lindum Rotary Club established the environment award in 1993. The club is one of four in the Lincoln area. It has 37 members drawn from businesses and professions from the Lincoln area. The club works to give service to the community both locally, and internationally through the wider Rotary movement. Lindum Rotary Club also organises the Lincolnshire Youth Speaks competition and is involved in fundraising for various charities. Rotary celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005, it was founded by Paul Harris in Chicago in 1905.
   
   
4. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and wild places throughout the historic county of Lincolnshire – from the Humber to the Wash. The Trust is Lincolnshire’s leading nature conservation charity with over 25,000 members and around 100 nature reserves. The Trust is a member of a nationwide network of 47 local trusts which work to protect wildlife - The Wildlife Trusts. There are 47 local Wildlife Trusts across the whole of the UK, the Isle of Man and Alderney. We are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone. With 670,000 members, we are the largest UK voluntary organisation dedicated to conserving the full range of the UK’s habitats and species.
   

For further information contact

Rachel Shaw, Public Relations Officer
Tel: 01507 526667   (ansaphone out of office hours)
Fax: 01507 525732
Email: Rachel Shaw

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
Banovallum House
Manor House Street
Horncastle
Lincolnshire LN9 5HF

Website: www.lincstrust.org.uk