Do you know of someone (or a group, school, parish council or business) who is working to make a difference for wildlife, and inspiring others in their community to get involved?
Now is your chance to nominate them for a 2018 Norfolk Community Biodiversity Award!
The Awards are organised annually by the Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership (NBP), a well-established partnership working to co-ordinate and share initiatives to conserve biodiversity across Norfolk. There are 5 different award categories to recognise people’s voluntary efforts to give nature a helping hand or to help people though contact with nature:
(i) Saving Species, which recognises individual or group efforts to improve the lot of wildlife species or species groups;
(ii) Groups, which recognises the achievements of groups working on biodiversity projects in their local community;
(iii) Young People’s Achievement, which is for individuals under 18 or those who enable young people to make a personal contribution to nature and biodiversity;
(iv) Nature for Health and Wellbeing, which recognises projects and activities that bring benefits for people’s health and wellbeing alongside benefits for biodiversity (or knowledge of it) in the community;
(v) Churchyards and Cemeteries, which 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.
It’s easy to make a nomination – you can complete a simple online nomination form here: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/CBANomination or download an electronic pdf version (which you can complete on your computer and email back to us at from www.norfolkbiodiversity.org (follow the link from the home page).
Winners and their guests will be invited to our summer Awards evening, which takes place in July in Norwich. All winners are presented with a framed certificate to record their achievement.
In judging the awards, we look for evidence of biodiversity enhancement, as well as the degree of community involvement, and project long-term sustainability.
Nominations close on 30th April 2018.
The Awards have been generously sponsored by Kelling Heath Holiday Park (Young People’s Achievement); The Landscape Partnership (Group Award); The Norwich Community Green Gym (Nature for Health and Wellbeing); Pensthorpe Natural Park (Saving Species); and R and J Hogg and Norfolk Wildlife Trust (joint sponsors of Churchyards and Cemeteries Award).
David North, Chair of the NBP Communities and Nature Topic Group that organises the Awards said: “This is the fifteenth 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.”
The Community Biodiversity Awards represent one of the flagship events in Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership’s calendar, raising awareness of the importance of Norfolk’s biodiversity, the sense of community and wellbeing in participating in voluntary activities, and championing community efforts to conserve and enhance biodiversity for the common good.
The Community Biodiversity Awards are the only Awards in Norfolk that focus on the voluntary efforts of individuals and groups whose projects are not part of the daily work of any conservation organisation. These people undertake their activities for the benefit of their local communities and local environment.
Last year, we welcomed over 80 people to our Awards evening, drawn from the winning projects and their guests from across Norfolk, who said how much it meant to have their efforts recognised. We believe this positive vibe carries back into the heart of local communities, encouraging people to continue their great work for the environment and inspiring others to become involved. Funding from our sponsors allows us to continue with and build on, this successful format.
