CPRE Norfolk Awards 2021 – Winners announced

CPRE announced the winners of this year’s 2021 CPRE Norfolk Awards scheme at Dereham Memorial Hall on 16th September 2021. Looking after the countryside, improving life for Norfolk communities and helping deal with climate change are all things where we need action. And every other year, the CPRE Norfolk Awards celebrate those who are doing just that.

After this unprecedented 12 months and more, 27 entries came forward to the Awards scheme, many highlighting the important role the countryside had played in our local lives as a global pandemic challenged the world. Far from curtailing local action because of difficulties created by coronavirus, there has been a resurgence of interest in caring for and accessing the countryside.

CPRE Norfolk was pleased with the quality and scope of activities and schemes. A great deal is going on at a local level to improve rural life in Norfolk and CPRE Norfolk was delighted to showcase it through at the Awards event.

CPRE President Professor Tim O’Riordan commented in his opening speech: “We have observed how many parish councils have been prepared to lead the way to set up schemes that will improve the local environment and benefit local people. Despite the huge challenges faced by schools and their pupils we were pleased to receive several worthy applications.”

Winner and highly commended awards were made in all of the four categories:

• Good Lighting Design
• Countryside Champions
• Rural Living
• Digging deep

Further awards were made to the winners of the Chair’s Award and the Youth Award.

THE WINNERS

Full details of all the winners and highly commended projects can be found on the 2021 Awards page.

GOOD LIGHTING AWARD
Certificates of Good Lighting Practice were awarded to:

Swaffham Town Council
Greater Anglia
Millgates Surgery, Hempnall

COUNTRYSIDE CHAMPIONS YOUTH AWARD

Winner

Save the Bees (Coltishall Primary School)

COUNTRYSIDE CHAMPIONS AWARD

Joint Winners
West Beckham Old Allotments (Felbeck Trust)
Chet Valley B-Line

Highly Commended
Boughton Fen
Hellington and Rockland Community Reserve

RURAL LIVING AWARD

Winner
Wild with Nature (Manor Farm near Attleborough)

Highly Commended
East Harling Community Garden (Harling Parish Council )

DIGGING DEEP AWARD

Joint Winners
Kett’s Heights
Thetford Conservation Group

Highly Commended
Woodton Community Wood (Woodton Parish Council)
Stations as Havens (Greater Anglia)
Marty’s Marsh (Blofield Parish Council)

CHAIR’S AWARD

Winner
Wild Ken Hill

CPRE Norfolk Chair, Chris Dady said of this worthy winner, “We are incredibly fortunate to have a project of such national significance right here in Norfolk. It is inspiring in so many ways from conservation and diversification, through to farming methods. A real beacon of hope for ways in which we can mitigate against climate change and truly protect and enhance our biodiversity.”

The 2021 Awards were generously sponsored by Brunswick Investment Management.