Wilder Community Award

For a community showing exemplary commitment to wildlife and/or the environment. 

Winner: Jenny Gifford and the 3Gs (Green Gardening Group)

Jenny is a powerhouse of community nature conservation. She embodies the Team Wilder vision. With volunteers Pete and Karolina, she offers free gardening services to her neighbours in Brightlingsea and Colchester if they commit to making one improvement to their gardens for wildlife. She has installed nest boxes, thriving wildlife ponds, hibernacula and pollinator friendly planting, and, perhaps most importantly, inspired the hearts and minds of her clients. 

Wilder School Award

For a school showing exemplary commitment to wildlife and/or the environment. 

Winner: Mayflower Primary School 

Mayflower Primary started working with us during our ‘Tendring Loves Conservation’ project (TLC) and made the decision to make outdoor learning a fundamental part of their school ethos. They have trained multiple staff to become Level 3 Forest School Leaders, and these teachers have developed a year-round nature-based programme of Forest School and Outdoor Learning for their pupils.

Green Leader Award

For an individual showing exemplary commitment to wildlife and/or the environment. 

Winner: John Meehan 

Until earlier this year, John was the Head of Climate Adaptation & Resilience at Essex County Council, a huge remit, until he retired after 29 years.  In John’s own words, “The career might be over, but the quest is not!”. John has been a champion for wildlife and trees in particular for many decades and has been a key factor in the Trust’s close relation with Essex County Council.  Among other things, he has been responsible for the Thames Chase Visitor Centre, encouraged the Forestry Commission and Woodland Trust to plant 500 hectares in Thames Chase, and he oversaw the planting of half a million trees as part of the Essex Forest Initiative, which he set up back in 2020.  

Wilder Business Award

Awarded to a corporate partner or a local business that shows an exemplary commitment to supporting wildlife.  

Winner: Ellisons Solicitors

Ellisons have carried out a ‘year of fundraising’ in aid of Essex Wildlife Trust and another charity with a whole host of events and initiatives. They raised a total of £16,680 for the Trust and also donated their services for the purchase of Fir Tree Wood.  

Ray Marsh Award

Awarded to an outstanding volunteer for significant services to the Trust. 

Winner: Peter Dimmick

Peter volunteered alongside Ray Marsh (who inspired this award) for over 40 years on Skippers Island, and has just this year been awarded his 50 Year Long Service Award. It was Ray Marsh himself who inspired Peter to become a volunteer, and Peter volunteered alongside Ray for many years at Skippers Island.  Peter has supported the Trust at The Naze for the last decade, offering his geology and fossil-related knowledge to all our visitors, including inspiring lots of children.