Northamptonshire wildlife enthusiasts win award

The Lings Wood Watch Group, based in Northamptonshire has won the Wildlife Watch Group of the Year title, from The Wildlife Trusts.

The group of young wildlife enthusiasts regularly celebrate the natural environment through wild camping, pond dipping and bug counting.

Its 20 members are part of a 150,000 strong army of young people, from toddlers to teens, who are passionate about enjoying and protecting wildlife and attend Wildlife Watch groups up and down the UK.

The Watch Group of the Year Award recognises and rewards this passion.

Each member put a journalist hat on to contribute articles and interviews to the Watch newsletter.

The group also voted to use only locally sourced, seasonal or fairtrade fruit at meetings following an education session on food miles.

Lings Wood Watch group leader, Susan Evans, said: “We are delighted to receive this award from The Wildlife Trusts in recognition of all those who make Lings Wood Wildlife Watch so much fun.

“The children deserve all the credit for this award as they are the real decision-makers of the group and the participants who make it a success.”

Nigel Doar, Head of Development for The Wildlife Trusts, said: “We often hear of the increasing disconnection between young people and the natural world, so it’s encouraging to know there are 150,000 Wildlife Watch group members out there who love to spend time marvelling at rockpool wildlife, or creating homes for nesting birds.

“Their enthusiasm for nature, and the stewardship they show towards it, serves as an inspiration to us all.”

North Berwick Wildlife Watch group scooped second place and Best New Group.

The winning group will be presented with a special trophy and £50 in gardening vouchers, with £25 going to the best new group. Runner-up receives £20 in garden vouchers, and all winners will receive a certificate.

To find your local group visit: wildlifewatch.org.uk/Where-you-live.

The full results

1^st place

•      Lings Wood Wildlife Watch Group (Beds, Cambs and Northants Wildlife Trust) 

Runner-up

•      North Berwick Wildlife Club (Scottish Wildlife Trust)

Joint 3^rd place

•      Stroud Wildlife Watch Group (Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust)

•      Paxton Pits Wexwatch Group (Beds, Cambs and Northants Wildlife Trust)

Highly Commended

•      Club WOW (Watch Out Wednesdays) (Worcestershire Wildlife Trust)

•      Moray Wildlife Watch Group (Scottish Wildlife Trust)

•      Farndon Watch Group (Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust)

•      Woodthorpe Guides Wildlife Watch group (Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust)

•      Nettlecombe Watch Club (Somerset Wildlife Trust)

•      Mendip Wildlife Watch (Somerset Wildlife Trust)

•      Swanwick Wildlife Watch Group (Hampshire & Isle Of Wight Wildlife Trust)

Best New Group

•      1^st place: North Berwick Wildlife Club (Scottish Wildlife Trust)

•      Runner-up: York Wildlife Watch (Yorkshire Wildlife Trust)