Country clothing brand Schöffel Country and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) want your nominations for your countryside heroes for their newly launched national awards before the 31 March deadline.
The Schöffel Countryside Awards – in partnership with the GWCT – recognises private land managers who are improving the health of the British countryside and delivering for nature.
Dozens of entries have been received across the six categories and the judging panel is still hoping for many more. In particular, it wants nominations for the Farm-Environment Partnership Award, which recognises farms that have formed successful partnerships with others and the Working Conservationist Award, highlighting an individual who has dedicated much of their life to the conservation of flora and fauna in the British countryside.
At a moment in time when the need to produce food and deliver biodiversity recovery has never been more crucial, these awards will shine a light on the finest examples of ‘working conservation’ and progressive land management across the UK.
Once the 31 March deadline has passed, the panel of judges will assess the entries and draw up a shortlist for each category. The winners will be presented with their awards at a ceremony in London on Monday 3 November.
Megan Lock, farmland biodiversity advisor for GWCT, said: “I have the pleasure of working with so many proactive and engaged farmers, gamekeepers and land managers as a Facilitator for two Farmer Clusters, through GWCT and within my advisory role, working with a number of individual estates and farms.
“I am out most days in the field, surveying and monitoring the corners of the countryside that people don't see, working with those unsung heroes who quietly deliver benefits for soil health, water quality and wildlife by creating, connecting and managing habitats at a landscape-scale, through collaboration AND working relentlessly to feed the nation.
“Bearing in mind that 72% of the UK is made up of farmland, the key to increasing biodiversity and reversing the decline in nature is held by those who look after this land.
“The Schöffel Countryside Awards are a chance to celebrate and showcase the fantastic work that these people – our ‘working conservationists’ – carry out up and down the country every day.”
Each award category will be judged by a panel made up of a GWCT ecologist or advisor and external experts in relevant fields, including ‘Cheerful Charlie’ Ireland from Clarkson’s Farm, Holkham Estate general manager of conservation Jake Fiennes, CEO of B-hive Innovations Vidyanath Gururajan, and numerous others.
“If you know of someone, who day in, day out, is going above and beyond to make a difference to wildlife or wetlands , who has a passion for conservation and is delivering for nature, then we want to hear from you,” said Schöffel Country’s executive director Marcus Janssen.
“We want nominations from all quarters, whether it’s an individual striving to make a difference on a couple of acres, or a collaborative project involving many people and spanning several farms or estates. If you have your own project, you are welcome to nominate it yourself.”
The nomination window will close on 31 March. Entering is simple and only takes a few minutes. Go to the Schöffel Countryside Awards website – www.schoffelcountry.com/pages/countryside-awards – to nominate your countryside heroes.
- END -
Notes to editors:
The award categories:
The Nature-friendly Farm/Estate of the Year Award
To celebrate farms and estates that have excelled in implementing practices that promote biodiversity and species recovery.
The Innovation in Conservation Award
To champion individuals or groups who have developed innovative solutions, technologies or methods that advance agriculture and the natural environment.
The Farm-Environment Partnership Award
To recognise farms that have formed successful partnerships with others, showcasing the positive outcomes of collaboration.
The Wetland & Watercourse Conservation Award
To showcase efforts and achievements in creating and restoring wetland habitats and watercourses to the benefit of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
The Rising Star Award
To shine on a light on a young individual who is demonstrating an outstanding approach to conservation.
The Working Conservationist Award
To celebrate an individual who has dedicated much of their life to the conservation of flora and fauna in the British countryside.
Behind the awards:
GWCT - Pioneering research offering hope for the future
For nearly 100 years the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust has been a champion for wildlife through an evidence-led approach to conservation. From waders to woodland birds, game management to farmland ecology, wild salmon to pollinators and black grouse to moorland conservation – the breadth of research carried out by the GWCT makes it unique.
Through sound advice and support the GWCT helps farmers, land managers and conservationists across the UK succeed in their mission to enhance the British countryside.
As an independent wildlife conservation charity, the GWCT has carried out scientific research into Britain’s game and wildlife since the 1930s and employs more than 60 post-doctoral scientists and other research staff with expertise in areas such as birds, insects, mammals, farming, fish and statistics.
The trust undertakes its own research as well as projects funded by contract and grant-aid from Government and private bodies.
Schöffel Country – The country clothing brand with a deep connection to the British countryside
Schöffel Country combines innovation, tradition and genuine passion to engineer the best country clothing for lovers of the countryside and country way of life.
The Schöffel Country team lives and breathes the Great British countryside. This passion has shaped the brand and drives it each day to deliver on a simple vision: to enhance customers’ experiences in the countryside by providing them with the most innovative, high-performance and reliable clothing that money can buy.
As a brand that truly cares about the health of the British countryside, Schöffel Country continues to invest in content campaigns to raise awareness of key issues and highlight those who are setting an excellent example in the realm of countryside management.
For more information, images or interviews please contact:
GWCT
Schöffel Country