Nominations have opened for this year’s Schöffel Countryside Awards, which return following the success of last year’s inaugural event.
Led by wildlife charity Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and country clothing brand Schöffel Country, it is a celebration of private land managers, farms and partnerships whose dedication to wildlife management and working conservation is helping to improve the health of the British countryside.
Entries are open to individual landowners or managers, or a collaborative project spanning several farms or estates.
Nick von Westenholz, GWCT’s chief executive officer, says: “Last year’s winners showed us that countryside heroes can be found right across the UK – people who, day in and day out, deliver benefits for the environment and demonstrate that conservation and food production are not opposing forces, but can work hand in hand.
“These ‘working conservationists’ are delivering tangible, on-the-ground results for wildlife, and their dedication embodies exactly what the GWCT stands for: practical, science-led conservation carried out by those who live and work on the land.
“Many of these individuals go largely unrecognised, but we want to celebrate their efforts. If you know someone who is quietly making a difference every day in our countryside, we encourage you to nominate them.”
Nominations are sought for six categories:
Working Conservationist – This category celebrates an individual who has dedicated much of their life to the conservation of flora and fauna in the British countryside.
Nature-Friendly Farm/Estate – This category celebrates farms, tenant farms, and estates that have excelled in implementing practices that promote biodiversity and species recovery.
Innovation in Conservation – This category champions individuals or groups who have developed innovative solutions, technologies or methods that advance conservation and the natural environment.
Farm-Environment Partnership – This category recognises farms that have formed successful partnerships with others, showcasing the positive outcomes of collaboration.
Wetland & Watercourse Conservation – This category focuses on efforts and achievements in creating and restoring wetland habitats and watercourses to the benefit of biodiversity and ecosystems.
Rising Star – This category shines a light on young individuals who are demonstrating an outstanding approach to conservation.
For more information visit: https://www.schoffelcountry.com/pages/countryside-awards
