Grass Wood Coppicing Task Day - Sara Spillett
Celebrating Yorkshire's Wildlife Heroes
The Wildlife Hero Awards
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is the only charity entirely dedicated to conserving, protecting and enhancing Yorkshire's wildlife and wild places. We've been working for the benefit of nature in Yorkshire for 80 years, but we certainly haven't been working alone. Our achievements have only been possible thanks to the support of passionate, driven and knowledgeable individuals, businesses and communities who do their bit to help wildlife thrive.
To mark our 80th anniversary, we want to celebrate them.
The Wildlife Hero Awards have been created to honour the people, groups and organisations whose passion and commitment are helping wildlife flourish across Yorkshire. Every day, incredible Yorkshire folk are taking action for nature — restoring habitats, inspiring others, and proving that collective effort can create real change.
These awards are our chance to recognise those heroes, thank them for their dedication, and share their stories so that even more people are inspired to stand up and make a positive difference for Yorkshire's wildlife.
Do you know a wildlife hero who deserves recognition?
Nominations
We need your help to find the Wildlife Heroes living and working across Yorkshire. Across ten award categories, you can nominate an individual, business or community group making a real difference for wildlife.
When submitting a nomination, please include as much detail as possible about why you are nominating them and what makes them a Wildlife Hero. The more information you provide, the easier it will be for our judges to understand the impact they have made for wildlife in Yorkshire.
Nominations close on Friday 14 August 2026.
The winners will be announced in a special awards ceremony as part of our Annual General Meeting on Saturday 3 October at York College - and they'll each receive a very special prize!
Winners will be selected by a panel made up of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust staff, trustees, and partners.
Credit: Paul Harris/2020VISION
Farmer
Nominate a Yorkshire farmer who has restored hedgerows, ponds, or field margins to boost biodiversity, protected nesting sites on their land, or changed farming practices to benefit wildlife while maintaining a productive farm.
Work experience student at Wild Ingleborough plant nursery credit Sarah Gant
Young Person
Nominate a young person who has led a school or community wildlife project, campaigned to protect a local species or habitat, created an inspiring nature initiative, or motivated other young people to take action for nature.
Image credit: Andy Steele, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.
Community Group
Nominate a group that has transformed a local space for wildlife, run long-term conservation projects, engaged volunteers in habitat restoration, or brought their community together to protect and enhance nature.
Credit Sarah Gant
Policy/planning Advocate
Nominate someone who has influenced planning decisions, policies, or local strategies to safeguard wildlife, ensured nature was considered in development plans, or successfully campaigned for stronger environmental protections.
Wildlife Influencer
Nominate a person who has used social media, blogging, film, photography, or public speaking to raise awareness of wildlife, inspire positive action, and reach new audiences with powerful messages about nature.
Environmental sector professional
Nominate a professional working in conservation, local government, NGOs, or consultancies who has delivered outstanding projects, led innovative programmes, or made a significant impact on protecting species and habitats.
Business
Nominate a Yorkshire business that has embedded nature into its operations, supported conservation through funding or partnerships, reduced its environmental impact, or created wildlife-friendly workplaces, products, or supply chains.
Nature-friendly school
Nominate a school that has created wildlife-rich grounds, embedded nature into the curriculum, involved pupils in conservation projects, or made outdoor learning and biodiversity a core part of school life.
Finn Varney
Researcher/academic
Nominate a researcher whose work has advanced understanding of wildlife, informed conservation action, influenced policy, or engaged the public and practitioners with important scientific findings.
Volunteers dry stone walling
Green jobs champion
Nominate someone who has promoted careers in nature and sustainability, created training or employment opportunities, supported young people or career changers into green jobs, or helped grow a skilled workforce for the future of conservation.