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Trust awards Yorkshire’s wildlife heroes – from farmers to volunteers and schools

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust have awarded their first Wildlife Hero Awards which spotlight individuals, businesses and community groups making a real and lasting difference for wildlife in Yorkshire.

The Trust launched its Wildlife Hero Awards in April to mark their 80th anniversary and received over 100 nominations for nine categories. 

Rachael Bice, CEO at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust said, “We wanted to recognise and thank the people working tirelessly and often behind the scenes to make a difference for wildlife and nature’s recovery across Yorkshire – they make our green spaces richer, more colourful, healthier and rich in wildlife, inspiring communities and future generations along the way.

"Our wildlife heroes are deeply inspiring: their commitment and pride is humbling and hopeful."

“Our heroes’ stories are deeply inspiring; the commitment and pride highlighted by just this group of people towards their farms, school grounds, local wildlife and greenspaces, is humbling and hopeful. Thank you to everyone who sent in nominations, we were so impressed by the breadth of the work of our nominees that it made judging quite a challenge.”

Finalists, highly commended and winners were invited to the celebratory event in York College as part of the Trust’s annual Members Day and AGM. Special guest Craig Bennett OBE, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts spoke at the event, announced the winners and presented the owl-themed trophies, designed by Inspirwood, print on wood specialists.  

The awards highlight the growing recognition and desire for more action for nature, securing its protection and recovery at home, work, through landowners, organisations and public policy, to meet the challenge of recovering 30% of Yorkshire for nature. Nature is not a ‘nice to have’, it’s a vital foundation, a resource for life, thriving economies and health needs. Everyone can contribute through individual and community actions.

Rachael continued, “Local community action is more vital now than ever before. If we are truly going to make a difference for wildlife in the face of our changing climate and nature crisis, there has to be supported and collective action. 

“Fixing green spaces isn’t just important for the wildlife they support, they are also our vital lifelines – for health, mitigating the costs that come with flooding and drought, and opportunities for crucial connection with the wildlife on our doorsteps.” 

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust runs events on nature reserves, supports community engagement programmes and calls on people to speak up for nature; enabling people everywhere to enjoy close encounters with wildlife, make it part of everyday lives and take action to protect and restore it. 

“There are wildlife heroes in every community and every generation."

Rachael concluded, “There are wildlife heroes in every community and every generation, our natural world needs you more than ever. Join with us by speaking up, leading or taking part, volunteering, restoring green spaces on your doorstep so together we can drive recovery for a wilder, healthier Yorkshire.”

The Trust ran the awards for the first time to mark their 80th anniversary and entries were carefully assessed, scored and agreed by a group of senior Trust staff and Trustees. Given the positive response and success, the Trust is considering how it repeats the Awards every two to three years.

Robert McAneney, a man stood on the right, accepts an award from Wildlife Trusts CEO Craig Bennett (left)

Farmer - Robert McAneney, Scow Hall Farm 

Robert McAneney, Yorkshire Water’s first tenant under its Beyond Nature Next Generation Farming Programme, runs a productive and sustainable business at Scow Hall Farm. He has introduced rotational grazing, reduced inputs and improved soil management, while restoring field margins, rough grassland, drystone walls and other habitats. Fencing and buffer strips protect streams, and his support for natural woodland regeneration, species-rich meadows and locally sourced wildflowers has created habitats for birds, mammals, pollinators and aquatic wildlife. Robert shares his farming experience through initiatives, events, farm visits, television and social media. His work has also secured an 11-year extension to his tenancy.

A young person stood on the right, Abdurrahan Butt, accepts an award from Wildlife Trusts CEO Craig Bennett (l)

Young Person - Abdurrahan Butt

Abdurrahan has completed more than 100 hours of volunteering this year, combining practical conservation work with community activities that support local wildlife. Their work includes helping to protect York’s nationally rare tansy beetle, leading community litter picks and creating bug hotels to provide habitat for pollinators. They also encourage others to take part in protecting nature and improving local habitats.

Gill and Rick Battarbee (R) accept an award from Wildlife Trusts CEO Craig Bennett (L)

Community Group - Addingham Environment and Saplings Group 

Addingham Environment Group was founded by the village Civic Society in 2016 and has grown to around 400 members, representing more than 10 per cent of the local population. Led by Rick Battarbee and Jan Hindle, volunteers support action on climate change, biodiversity, water conservation and waste reduction through activities including tree and hedge planting, wildflower meadow management, invasive species control and community allotments. The group also monitors local birds, bees, butterflies, bats and becks. Its monthly Addingham Saplings programme, led by Gill Battarbee and Peter Miller gives children practical opportunities to learn about wildlife, habitats and species monitoring. 

Tamsin Constable, right, accepts an award from Wildlife Trusts CEO Craig Bennet (left).

Planning/Policy Advocate - Tamsin Constable 

Tamsin Constable played a key role in developing West Yorkshire’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy and advancing plans to deliver the 30 by 30 target for Yorkshire. Working for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, she brought together public, private and voluntary organisations, landowners, community groups and residents to create a shared vision for nature recovery across the region. By combining ecological evidence with policy and local priorities, Tamsin helped identify opportunities to restore nature and embed biodiversity within regional planning and decision-making.

Katie Andrews (right) accepts an award from Wildlife Trusts CEO Craig Bennett (left)

Wildlife Influencer - Katie Andrews, Garden of Moths

Katie Andrews, creator of Garden of Moths Instagram account, is helping raise awareness of moth conservation from East Yorkshire through photography, education and public engagement. Using the platform to highlight the diversity, beauty and ecological importance of moths, Katie makes wildlife topics accessible to a wide audience and encourages greater understanding of moths as important pollinators. Through engaging content and clear interpretation, the account helps challenge misconceptions about moths and inspires people to take a closer interest in the natural world and the species around them.

Ann Hanson (right) accepts an award from Wildlife Trusts CEO Craig Bennett (left)

Environmental Sector Professional - Ann Hanson

Ann Hanson is an environmental professional who has spent more than 30 years supporting Yorkshire farmers and businesses to improve biodiversity through whole-farm, woodland, grassland and pond management. She provides guidance on environmental grant schemes, with a particular focus on helping smaller farms access advice and funding opportunities. Alongside her professional work, Ann is a long-standing volunteer with the Yorkshire Mammal Group and North Yorkshire Bat Group, organising surveys, wildlife walks, public events and educational activities. Her conservation work includes bat rescue, habitat management and species monitoring for dormice, bats, harvest mice, water voles and the Cropton Forest beaver trial. She also shares her expertise with farms, councils, charities, community groups and conservation organisations across Yorkshire.

A representative from Forest of Flowers (right) accepts an award from Wildlife Trusts CEO Craig Bennett (left)

Business - Forest of Flowers

Forest of Flowers has transformed more than 100 acres of former farmland near York into a wildlife-rich landscape of woodland, wildflower meadows and wetlands. Since 2015, the organisation has planted more than 42,000 native trees and shrubs, established species-rich grasslands and created 18 ponds, delivering benefits for biodiversity, pollinators, habitat connectivity, carbon capture and flood mitigation. Beyond its own site, Forest of Flowers supports nature recovery by providing wildflower seed, sharing conservation expertise and engaging local communities through volunteering and events. The project has become a recognised example of successful habitat restoration, with a notable increase in wildlife and a long-term commitment to landscape-scale conservation.

Kerry Thompson, right, accepts an award on behalf of Wyke 6th Form College from Wildlife Trusts CEO Craig Bennett (left)

Nature-Friendly School - Wyke 6th Form College & the Eco Club Students

Teacher Kerry Thompson with Wyke Sixth Form College’s Eco Club has led the development of a “Wilder Wyke” initiative, creating a campus where 30% of the site supports nature by 2030. Students raised more than £600 to install swift boxes and fund wider conservation work, while also researching and producing a biodiversity plan that was adopted by the college leadership team. Improvements already delivered include 50 metres of hedgerow, a woodland copse, bat boxes, reduced mowing and a reduction in herbicide use. Future plans include a wildflower meadow, ponds, rain planters and further habitat creation through a three-year action plan. Driven largely by students volunteering their own time, the project demonstrates the impact of student-led action for nature and is helping to inspire similar initiatives at other schools and colleges.

Dr Richard Grayson (right) accepts an award from Wildlife Trusts CEO Craig Bennett (left)

Researcher/Academic - Dr Richard Grayson

Dr Richard Grayson has played a leading role in advancing peatland conservation, restoration and research. As the Action Site Coordinator for the EU WaterLANDS project, Dr Grayson has worked with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and the Great North Bog partnership share learning from European partners to restore peatland. Based at University of Leeds, he has helped connect academic research with practical conservation, bringing together expertise from science, policy, governance and finance to support nature recovery. He has worked with the UK WaterLANDS team to lead workshops, events and knowledge-sharing initiatives, co-authored an influential White Paper on peatland restoration, and championed innovative public engagement projects, including artist-in-residence programmes. He has also helped secure funding, supported staff secondments across the Great North Bog partnership and contributed to the development of the Ure Dales Landscape Recovery Project, working with local communities to shape plans for the future of the landscape.

 

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