Local Wildlife Team Win Prestigious National Award
The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country have won a prestigious award for the impact of their work through the Nature Improvement Area (NIA).
The NGO Impact Award was given by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) at a lunch in London on 21st June after the team were nominated by Trustee Melanie Knight, beating off competition from the National Biodiversity Network and London Wildlife Trust.
The NGO Impact Award was given by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) at a lunch in London on 21st June after the team were nominated by Trustee Melanie Knight, beating off competition from the National Biodiversity Network and London Wildlife Trust.
The NIA is a large scale living landscape first funded by Government in 2013, this year funding has been continued by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. The Wildlife Trust team has led the partnership that has so far resulted in 250 sites across Birmingham and the Black Country improved for nature, 220 hectares of woodland, meadow and heathland enhanced for wildlife to thrive and has been helped by over 5,000 volunteers.
Notable projects include poor quality under used open space in Castle Vale being turned into a wild meadow where for the first time, hundreds of green winged orchids grew this year.
Simon Atkinson, Conservation Manager, The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country said:
‘We were delighted to receive this award from CIEEM. This is a win for all the partners, community groups and volunteers that have worked together to help nature thrive across the region, but most of all it’s a win for urban wildlife.’
