Award Winners 2002/2003

This is the second year in which we have included the Whitbread Action Earth Awards. The awards were introduced to highlight some of the exceptional conservational work that has been carried out by volunteers over the duration of the campaign.

Whitbread have donated vouchers to a total value of £1,000. This scheme was open to all projects that had registered with the campaign. The awards were divided into the following categories with one prize for each category.

• The most project on the day
• The most location or type of project
• The project involving the number of young people between 16- 25
• The project that does most to promote e.g. non use of peat, use of recycled materials, efficient use of water & power

It was a difficult decision to select the top four projects. All the projects that entered deserved to win.

The most colourful project on the day

Winner
Beach Landscape Opportunity Team

The project focussed on the importance of trees and recycling. They looked at their importance and contribution to the eco-system and environment. A group of children went onto the local beach to pick up litter and other abandoned objects. They then took what they collected back to the classroom and created a variety of sculptures and interesting items. Shoreham Beach, West Sussex, Ref E303

The most unusual location or type of project

Winner
CONKERS: Deadwood Forest

Dead hawthorn and elder trees were planted in a woodland clearing. As they decay they provide homes for a variety of invertebrates, which in turn will provide food for bats and birds in the woodland. They will also contrast with the deadwood in the habitat piles. This project is unusual because the concept of planting "dead trees" would at first seem a ridiculous task. It is encouraging people to view dead wood in a different light as something whose useful life is far from complete. The project organiser's hope to continue planting the wood so they have trees at different stages of decay. Moira, Derbyshire, Ref E235

The project involving the highest number of young people from 16 - 25

Winner
CSV Action Sunderland: Field of Dreams

CSV Action Sunderland organised a volunteer party to do some conservation work on a piece of derelict land owned by the church. The local community also came out and took part. Altogether 200 trees and shrubs were planted and a pathway was restored. In total 72 volunteers took part. Pennywell Community College, Sunderland, Ref E78

The project that does most to promote sustainability e.g. non-use of peat, use of recycled materials, efficient use of water & power

Winner
Fyvie Primary School: Recycled Bottle Greenhouse

The project started by collecting and preparing 2 litre plastic bottles. The pupils then used these to construct a greenhouse entirely from recycled materials. The greenhouse will be used for growing plants and vegetables for the school. Pupils and members of the community collected approximately 1500 plastic bottles. A team of 20 pupils spent lunch times cutting bottles and inserting them into the mesh framework of the bottle house. Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, Ref S48