There are just two weeks left for growers to get their entries in for the Schöffel Countryside Awards, run in partnership with the GWCT.
The awards celebrate those delivering working conservation with entries encouraged from all quarters, whether it be an individual farmer helping to improve the health of the British countryside or a collaborative project spanning several farms or estates.
This year’s judging panel includes two of the winners from the inaugural 2025 Schöffel Countryside Awards – Rupert Brewer, game and wildlife manager of the Bisterne Estate and Tom Hilder, senior nature-based solutions officer for the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
Rupert says: “It was fantastic to get recognition for the work and commitment that has been put in over many years. Conservation is something I have carried out because I believe it’s the right thing to do, not something you start out to do for an award. My achievements have only been made possible by GWCT’s excellent advice and contributing to GWCT science has been so rewarding.
“Since the awards, I’ve been asked to do keynote speeches and various tours about our conservation successes and winning has highlighted our efforts so well.
“I feel my experience of achieving nature recovery, along with technical expertise in areas of conservation, such as habitat improvement, monitoring and data collection gives me a good insight into how much passion and effort is required. As a judge, this is something I will be looking for when visiting this year’s award nominees.”
Nominations for the awards close on 31 March. For more information, please visit: https://www.schoffelcountry.com/pages/countryside-awards
