www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk

Immediate Release                                                         March 2023

Transforming the Trent Valley has won an award for their work using outdoor space sustainably and promoting nature and habitat restoration in rural and urban areas – from protecting and restoring landscapes that are vital for limiting emissions, to sustainable farming, land management projects and innovative agricultural techniques.

On 27 February the national climate awards initiative, the Green Heart Hero Awards, returned to the Palace of Westminster for the first time since 2020 after disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Transforming the Trent Valley team were awarded the Outdoor Project Green Hero award at the ceremony, hosted by Sky News presenter Kay Burley. The awards honoured and recognised the team for their ambitious projects combining river restoration and wetland creation with heritage, communities and access in the Trent Valley.

Louise Morris, Landscape Partnership Manager, says “We are very proud to have won our category and receive the recognition for our hard work and positive change in the Trent Valley.”

Transforming the Trent Valley is a partnership project of eighteen organisations working together to restore and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the Trent Valley, with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust at the helm. The projects include connecting communities through action for nature, improving access to nature, and river and floodplain improvements.  River restoration projects improve local biodiversity and contribute towards natural climate solutions in wetland areas. The scheme is transforming the landscape through cultural and natural heritage, most recently on living floodplains where we have been enhancing habitats in Burton Washlands with river re-profiling and creating wildflower meadows. This programme has improved habitat in the wetlands, creating a space for both people and wildlife.

The awards are coordinated by The Climate Coalition to recognise the people, politicians, businesses and more who have gone the extra mile to help create a cleaner, greener future. Attending the ceremony were MPs and Peers from across Westminster parties, NGO leaders and presenters.

Award categories included recognition for small and large businesses that champion sustainability, innovative initiatives, locally elected leaders, parliamentary champions, and people and groups working to break down social barriers in communities to achieve action on climate change and biodiversity loss.

Bronwen Smith-Thomas, Co-Director at The Climate Coalition said:  “These awards are a fantastic opportunity to amplify and celebrate the great work being done by groups up and down the country. The Climate Coalition is proud to platform the efforts, often unseen, to tackle climate change and protect nature in Britain. We, alongside the nominees, are passionate about making change and will make every effort to demonstrate that elected officials need to step up and do their bit too.”

The Green Heart Hero Awards takes place in the run up to The Climate Coalition’s flagship campaigning moment the Great Big Green Week, the largest celebration of action on climate and nature in communities across the UK. Hundreds of thousands are expected to take part across 10-18 June in thousands of events in towns and cities in all four nations.

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For more information about the TTTV project visit https://www.thetrentvalley.org.uk

Editor’s Notes

Interviews are available with Louise Morris, Landscape Partnership Manager, and reporters are welcome to view our sites to find out more.

Transforming the Trent Valley A revitalised and treasured landscape of wildlife-rich waterways and wetlands is being made possible thanks to the ‘Transforming the Trent Valley’ scheme successfully securing a large grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in December 2018 to deliver a multi-million pound scheme in the Trent Valley across 200km in Staffordshire and Derbyshire. This area covers the Trent Valley from Rugeley, through Alrewas to Derby, The Tame Valley from just north of Tamworth to its confluence with the Trent at Croxall, and Dove River Valley between Derby and Uttoxeter. Transforming the Trent Valley is a partnership project of 18 organisations working together to restore and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the Trent Valley, with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust at the helm. More details can be found at www.thetrentvalley.org.uk.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, a registered charity, www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk is the lead partner for the Transforming the Trent Valley Landscape Partnership Scheme. It is the leading nature conservation body in the County. Staffordshire Wildlife Trust protects and enhances our wildlife and wild places and promotes involvement, enjoyment and understanding of the natural world.  With the support of over 19,000 members, it manages over 30 sites covering over 4,000 acres and including sites of international, European and national importance. As part of The Wildlife Trusts, the Trust is the local face of the largest organisation in the UK concerned with the conservation of all forms of wildlife.

The National Lottery Heritage Lottery Fund www.heritagefund.org.uk. Using money raised by the National Lottery, we inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. Follow @HeritageFundUK, @HeritageFundM_E on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund

The Green Heart Hero Awards:
The Climate Coalition is the UK’s largest group of people dedicated to action against climate change. Along with our sister organisations Stop Climate Chaos Cymru and Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, we are a group of over 130 organisations — including the National Trust, Women’s Institute, Oxfam, and RSPB —  and 22 million voices strong. We are reaching across the UK to show our love for all the things we want to protect from climate change, and to ask politicians to put aside their differences and commit to doing whatever is necessary to protect them.
Further information about the Green Heart Hero Awards, including the longlist of categories and nominees can be found here.
Further information about the Great Big Green Week – 10-18 June – can be found at greatbiggreenweek.com