Biosphere Nature Awards – Celebrating the Pledge for Nature Project

Over 130 guests attended the ‘Biosphere Nature Awards’ at The Plough Arts Centre, Great Torrington, on the evening of Monday, May 22.

The event was held to celebrate the achievements of the National Lottery Heritage funded ‘Pledge for Nature’ project, which has been running for the last three years, galvanising community action for nature’s recovery across the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere and beyond.

Almost 5,000 people have engaged in over 1200 actions to help nature recover, such as installing bird nest boxes, planting a tree, taking part in ‘No Mow May’ or the ‘Big Butterfly Count’, helping hedgehogs or letting a corner go wild.

Although most of these pledges have been made within the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere, pledges have also come in from around the UK, including Kent, Penzance and North Yorkshire!

Those who have gone above and beyond for nature recovery have been rewarded each year with a Pledge for Nature plaque in the annual Nature Awards, judged by members of the Project Steering Committee.

As the project draws to a close, Pledge for Nature Co-ordinator, Jack Woolfenden said: “This year we really wanted to bring people together to present the awards in person and celebrate everyone’s success in helping nature to recover.”

The celebration evening was packed full of inspirational stories from across our Biosphere, from primary school children creating their own ‘micro reserve’ and leading ‘eco-committees’ to groups across many villages using various themes to help our environment return to its former glory. These included South Molton Save our Swifts group and the Landkey Hedgehog Group.

Dr Mike Moser, Coordinator of the Biosphere’s Nature Recovery Plan gave a presentation, explaining the reasoning, aims and outcomes of the project: “This journey began in 2019 when it was clear that, despite the incredible work of the Biosphere’s partner organisations over the 20 years since the UNESCO designation, we had been unable to turn the tide of nature loss in the area. To make a difference, we clearly needed to do more:

· Firstly, a nature recovery plan to focus resources, partners and all our energy on tackling the root causes of nature decline and priorities for nature recovery in the area

· A way to inspire individuals and the community across the area and show how collective effort could make a real difference for nature’s recovery.

“Well, today we have achieved both! It has been fabulous to hear all the wonderful things that the community is doing for nature – and my congratulations to this years’ award winners.”

The winners of the Nature Awards for 2022 were announced and welcomed on stage to receive their ‘Pledge for Nature Bat Box’, as a reward for their efforts. The winners are:

School Award: South Molton Community Primary School who have planted sixty trees and thirty hedgerow plants along with wildflower patches around the school pond and climbers such as honeysuckle and jasmine around the school fences. They have put up numerous bird and bat boxes and made their very own hedgehog house.

Youth Award: Joe Szymankiewicz from Kingsley School, Bideford who has planted over 1000 trees on land in Braunton. Joe plays a key part in the Earth Centre Society at Kingsley School, choosing and directing projects that will have the greatest environmental and sustainable impact.

Gardener Award: Gary and Lynn Green who are creating a quarter acre wildflower patch and have added freshwater plants to a new wildlife pond. Within two days they had dragonflies laying eggs, whirligig beetles and pond skaters. The areas of long grass left from last year have a good population of field mice and voles, so now they get regular visits from a pair of Kestrels and their two chicks.

Community Champion Award: Neil Spencer has been driving forward the Ashreigney and Riddlecombe Nature Recovery Group efforts for nature recovery in the parish. Neil has facilitated several training sessions for members of the group and continues to be a great supporter of nature recovery actions across the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere.

Community Group Award: The Ashreigney and Riddlecombe Nature Recovery Group, who are in the process of making and installing 100 nesting boxes in gardens, woodlands, orchards and on the Church. They monitor water quality and are currently auditing the biodiversity in the parish. Several successful community days have also been organised and they will soon be holding a guided walk on ‘Culm Grassland’ to raise awareness and understanding of its importance as one of the most valuable habitats.

Farmer/Landowner Award: Jo and Tim Budden, Higher Hacknell Organic Farm. Higher Hacknell is a registered organic farm and has a Countryside Stewardship agreement in place. They are an accredited member of the Biosphere Business Partner Network and have hosted several meetings of the Taw Valley Facilitation Group. They hold walks and talks for other farmers to see organic farming up close and gain an understanding of what Higher Hacknell are doing for the environment.

Business Award: Venn Valley Vineyard are an accredited member of the Biosphere Business Partner Network and have turned three overgrown ponds into wildlife ponds. They have planted a hedgerow of native species across a third of the perimeter of the vineyard to feed bees and other pollinating insects. They don’t just have a bug hotel... they have a bug resort!

Lottery Player Award: South Molton Save our Swifts who have invited the South Molton community to get involved in the preservation of swifts in the town, by erecting their custom-made swift boxes on eaves. The boxes are either flat topped or sloped according to the site and are sold for £15 each with free installation, if required. Over 100 boxes are now in place in the town. They keep the public informed by putting regular reports in the local monthly magazines and newspapers.

Pupil Awards: An opportunity for schools to recognise pupils that are doing outstanding work for nature recovery. They were nominated by teachers and community members.

Juliette Reed, West Buckland School

Adam Sykes, Pilton Community College

Lottie Collins, South Molton Community Primary School

James Emptage, Appledore Primary School

Norah Tittle, Braunton Academy

Tymek Kiliszek, Ilfracombe Academy

Elsa Reeby, Blue Coats Primary School, Great Torrington

Councillor Andrea Davies, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport said of the event: “It was a lovely evening. The award winners are inspirational, listening to the activities and the positivity was really uplifting. I feel very proud that here in North Devon we have such proactive residents. The Biosphere team did a wonderful job of making the event such a celebration of success.”

The North Devon UNESCO Biosphere vision is for nature to be recovering by 2030. Show your support by signing their Nature Recovery Declaration, or making a ‘Pledge for Nature’ on their website, www.biosphere.org.uk/pledge-for-nature/create-a-pledge

Congratulations to all the Nature Award winners and everyone involved with this project!