Conservation Awards set to be bigger than ever, say organisers
THE Conservation Awards are back after a cancellation in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Launched in 1990 by Insurance Corporation founder Peter Walpole, with the ambition of sustaining and protecting the Channel Islands and its wildlife, the awards have provided more than £100,000 of funding over three decades to different projects.
As a direct response to the existing restrictions in the Channel Islands, the company is hoping to inspire islanders to get involved with their new Lockdown Award.
It is for all age groups, but especially aimed at teachers, parents and students who are looking to get outside and foster positive mental health through educational projects.
Whether through introducing native flower patches from old seed collections or creating wildlife friendly garden sanctuaries, entrants are encouraged to be creative, while staying safe within their own gardens and using plants and materials that they have to hand.
‘The Conservation Awards mean a lot to us as a business due to the fact we live and work in these islands and care about them,’ said managing director Mark Marshall.
‘They really act as an opportunity for us to give something back, no matter how small, and to create some further interest in the things that matter to all of us, the environment.
'Coming into its 31st year we really want to celebrate the great initiatives that the islanders are so passionate about. The event will be bigger than ever and we hope it will continue to have such a positive impact on the local community as it has in the past.’
All entries are subject to a judging process based on key criteria, before a judging panel then visit to meet project team leaders. Funding for the main Awards will be increased in 2021, with the addition of new categories.
Awards categories for 2021 are:
n The Best Conservation Project – £2,500
n Runner-up – up to £1,500
n Peter Walpole People’s Choice Award – £500 (voted for by the public)
n Young Conservationist of the Year Award – prize depends on size and scope of the project
n Best Youth Group/Education Award – £500
n Unsung Conservation Hero Award – up to £250
n Lockdown Conservation Award
Vanessa Crispini, a previous judge, said: ‘As the only consistent conservation awards in Guernsey over the last 30 years, the impact of the Insurance Corporation Conservation Awards has been hugely significant.
'For individuals and small organisations looking to access funding to make a positive difference to wildlife in the Channel Islands, the awards are a shining beacon.’
Entry forms are available from www.insurancecorporation.com and must be submitted by Tuesday 13 April.
Because of the ongoing restrictions on inter-island travel which may impact judging, project leaders will be required to submit videos as part of their entries.
Judging will take place on Wednesday 19 May. The winners will be announced at a lunchtime ceremony for all the shortlisted entrants on Wednesday 16 June.
