Did you know that Nottinghamshire is home to some fantastic green projects? In fact last Thursday (08-11-10) I was at Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s 2007 Green Guardians Environmental Awards Gala Dinner (which I helped to organise) celebrating some of the best green projects in Nottinghamshire.

The event was hosted by TV Environmentalist Penney Poyzer and supported by a range of other green celebrities including David Bellamy who was the final judge.  In total, five awards were presented and winners in all but the business category receive £1000 to invest in the future of their projects.

The Winners were as follows:

Environmentalist of the Year: Tony Menzies

Tony is a key member of the Farndon Residents Environment Group and has spent hours working to make Farndon a more pleasant place to visit and live. He has been instrumental in landscaping and restoring the area adjacent to the riverside and in caring for the ponds nature reserve and propagating snowdrops throughout the village. He is also reserve warden at Farndon Willow holt where he monitors the internationally important collection of willows.

Speaking about Tony, Professor David Bellamy commented:  “A volunteer in the truest sense of the word knowing what needs to be done and getting down to work to do it. A real Little John of the green team”.

Environmental Community of the Year: Partnership Council

The Partnership Council has been delivering a varied, exciting, and unique programme of environmental education involving children, young people and adults, alongside a number of hand-on projects involving volunteers. Overall, their aim is to work with local residents to help them change and care for their local environment and to give them a voice on environmental issues.

Speaking about the project David Bellamy said: “The partnership council is touching on and improving most facets of environmental concern in the heart of Nottingham.”

Environmental Business of the Year: Notts Golf Club, Hollinwell

The Golf Club has made an amazing contribution to heathland habitat restoration in our county at a time when this habitat has been the focus of environment efforts across the
UK. The golf club has has transformed  neglected heathland and acid grassland areas through effective habitat management  – helping to bring back a number of threatened species and help redefine the boundaries for sustainable golf course management.

David Bellamy said:  ”If every golf cub followed suit I would probably take up golf”

Education in the Environment :  Orston Primary School

Orston’s environmental programme is a fundamental aspect of learning within the school and the number of environment related activities are countless. They range from wildlife gardens and insect towers to waste reduction strategies and a dedicated Eco Team, ‘Eco Code’  ‘Eco Action Plan’ and Eco Newsletter.

David Bellamy Commented: “Wow! the greenest of the green. Educating, Entertaining and Enthralling as they Reduce Reuse and Recycle their way towards a more sustainable future”.

Green Guardians ‘Living for Tomorrow’ award: Partnership Council

This award is designed to promote sustainable lifestyles and was presented to the Partnership Council due to its wide ranging activity programmes and links across different sectors.

I would like to congratulate everyone who applied for the 2007 Green Guardians Awards as every entrant was fantastic. The 2008 awards will be launched in April and I hope that there will be an even greater number of fantastic projects that are nominated.