The winner of the 2024 Lincolnshire Environmental Awards was announced during an inspiring morning of presentations and Q&A sessions at Whisby Education Centre on Saturday 28 September. Cherry Fields at Cherry Willingham fought off tough competition from the other two finalists, The Community Growers CIC in Boston and Nettleham Woodland Trust, to be awarded the trophy, with the judges highlighting the impressive balance it has achieved in catering for the needs of wildlife, village residents and visitors.

The project, which has been running for eight years, encompasses woodland, wildflower meadow, a fruit orchard, wildlife ponds and river access alongside a cycle track, picnic sites, natural play features, a fenced dog exercise area and more. Since Cherry Willingham Parish Council purchased the land - at the time, intensively farmed arable fields - in 2016, volunteers have planted nearly 10,000 native trees and shrubs and several hundred native woodland plants (from English bluebells and wild narcissi to wild garlic, primroses and ferns). They have hand-sown four acres of wildflower meadow, which are now mown every year and the hay removed, and created different woodland habitats. Four ponds and a wet scrape have also been excavated and populated with native wetland plants.

The early vision for Cherry Fields began back in 2013 when the parish council conducted a survey to identify what local residents really wanted. There were two clear answers: access back to the River Witham and more greenspace. "We wanted real wild, natural greenspace, the kind where children can get mucky," explained Nigel Hooper, who has been one of the driving forces behind the project.

People, especially the younger generation, have always been at the heart of the plans, along with wildlife. Quieter nature areas are complemented by a hugely popular, expanded dog exercise area, children's 'scramble trail', picnic sites, and the cycle track, which winds through fen woodland. An adjoining field that was part of the original purchase is now thriving community allotments, and the site also includes The Oasis, a youth-based YMCA charitable venture. 

An annual village picnic is held at Cherry Fields, along with a variety of other events, and guided nature and foraging walks. Construction of a network of surfaced paths, boardwalks, bridges and a wheelchair-friendly ramp to the riverbank has ensured access for everyone. 

"Getting the balance between space for people and space for wildlife is tricky on a fairly small and well used site," Nigel acknowledged. "But as long as people respect nature and accept that it does sometimes need a bit of peace and quiet, it works. We excavated a lagoon and planted bulrushes - there's a lot of footfall in that area and we didn't know if it would be too busy, but moorhens nested in the middle and fledged three chicks."

That crucial respect for the site and its species is there because the community has been so invested in the project from the start. "There's hardly a teenager in the village who didn't plant a tree there as a child," Nigel said. "The issue comes now that all the big exciting jobs are done, and it's harder to engage the next generation with day-to-day maintenance. We're currently looking for something bigger on site that they can really get involved with."

Volunteer Paul Wood echoed the sentiment: "It is very satisfying to walk through this flourishing site and think, 'I planted that'."

He said it was genuinely amazing for the project to have been recognised as winner of the Lincolnshire Environmental Awards, and parish councillor and volunteer Pamela Bucke agreed. "I didn't think we'd win, any of the other candidates could have taken it," she said. "I'm delighted. When we moved to the area, we chose Cherry Willingham for its community, but the Fields is the best thing that's happened to it." 

Our podcast team spoke to all three Lincolnshire Environmental Awards finalists at Whisby and also enjoyed a look around the Cherry Fields site with Nigel Hooper. Listen to this special community-focused episode now!

The Lincolnshire Environmental Awards are organised by the Rotary Club of Lindum, Lincoln in partnership with the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, and sponsored by Pennells Garden Centres, a longstanding family-owned business with centres in Lincoln, Cleethorpes and Sleaford.