Intelligently Green Awards – Winners Announced
The winners of Wychavon District Council’s 2018 Intelligently Green Awards were announced yesterday evening (7 June).
Finalists gathered at Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Lower Smite Farm, for the awards that celebrate local green projects, activities and lifestyles that are not only good for the environment but also benefit the community or save money.
Severn Waste Services sponsored the ceremony which was hosted by leading British environmentalist and writer, Jonathon Porritt CBE.
Nominations from across the district were received in four award categories.
The winners were:
Individual and household category – sponsored by HERU
· Chris and Kathy Haynes (joint winner) for their roles in the green refurbishment of Harvington Village Hall, active involvement in Harvington Neighbourhood Plan, Worcestershire Heat Networks project and promoting local food.
· Robin Walker (joint winner) for his active involvement in Transition Evesham Vale, Cyclefest, cycle training for schools and Evesham’s Green Plan.
Community group category – sponsored by Severn Waste Services
· Evesham Adventure Playground Association for their community pantry, playground peddlers, bike swap library and adventure playground.
Schools/college and youth group category – sponsored by University of Worcester
· The DeMontfort School, Evesham, for eco-school projects including a plastic reduction campaign and development of outside space.
Ashton under Hill First School received a special commendation for its campaign to promote the use of glass instead of plastic milk bottles in schools.
Business and public sector category – sponsored by Walsh Mushrooms
· The Orchard Getaway an off-grid, luxury glamping site set in a plum orchard at Hinton-on-the-Green.
The overall winner of the 2018 Intelligently Green Awards was Evesham Adventure Playground Association.
Dave Boucker from Evesham Adventure Playground Association, said: “We are surprised and very proud to have won these awards and get some recognition for the things we’re doing. We hope this will encourage even more children and their parents to think green.”
Councillor Emma Stokes, Executive Board Member for Environment and Street Scene at Wychavon District Council, said: “Our judges had a tough enough time selecting the finalists and it was even more challenging selecting the winners from such a high standard of entries. We want them all to act as an inspiration to other individuals, businesses and community groups in showing how creative projects that are both intelligent and green can really work for everyone in Wychavon. What an inspiring evening!”
Jonathon Porritt CBE, environmentalist and writer who hosted the awards, said, “It’s been wonderful to be part of such an inspiring event and to hear about local people taking action in their communities. I’m a firm believer in the power of small numbers of people coming together to make a big difference and inspiring others in their communities. That’s what this event has been all about. “
David Hannon, Development Director at Rooftop Housing, who were the main sponsors of this year’s Intelligently Green Awards, said: “Sustainability underpins everything we do at Rooftop, not just because of the need to make sure we have a planet to leave our grandchildren, but because of people’s lives right now. By being energy efficient, by supporting local businesses, by pooling knowledge, we help people lead successful lives. National and international change has to start with local change, and the Intelligently Green Awards are part of that change.”
Intelligently green is about doing things that not only have a positive impact on the environment, but also have community or financial benefits.
For more information about the awards and all the winners go to www.intelligently-green.com