RSPB’s Nature of Scotland awards

These are the shortlists for this year’s categories.  Lots of good contenders but I wish Ruth Tingay the best of luck in the political advocate category.  Given the judging panel, I would rate her odds of winning at around 9/4.

We will learn the identities of the winners on the 22^nd of November at a posh do hosted by Kate Humble and Euan McIlwraith.

The judging panel for this year’s awards includes Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland, Euan McIlwraith, TV and radio presenter and wildlife expert, Francesca Osowska OBE, CEO of Scottish Natural Heritage, Vince McKeown, SCDI’s Director of Commercial Operations, and Susan Davies, Director of Conservation at the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

Business Award:

• Arran Trust
• Barratts provides new homes for people and wildlife in Aberdeen
• Scottish Water – leaving a sustainable and thriving natural legacy
• Wild Planet Explorers – inspiring future biologists and conservationists!

Community Initiative Award:

• CCI – Clydesdale Community Initiatives
• Friends of Happy Valley
• Greening our Street – promoting biodiversity in the urban landscape!
• Inverclydebuzz: Pollinator Corridor Project
• Ninewells Community Garden: therapeutic gardening for all
• Tiree Great Yellow Bumblebee Project
• Water of Leith – 30 years

Food & Farming Award:

• 50 years of farming and conservation at Mersehead
• Common Farm
• Knock Farm and Eco- Agri-Tech, Huntly – inspiring others on sustainable farming
• Nature Friendly Farming Network
• The Argaty Red Kite Project

Innovation Award:

• Allan Water Improvement Project
• CLIMAVORE: On Tidal Zones
• CuanTec
• The Peatland Code – an innovative funding mechanism for peatland restoration
• The SBIF Review: Re-imagining the Biological Recording Infrastructure in Scotland

Nature Tourism Award:

• Knapdale, Scotland’s Natural Treasure Chest
• Nature Scotland – Ethically sustainable wildlife experiences, contributing towards conservation and education
• Unforgettable close encounters aboard specialist wildlife cruises in the Hebrides
• The Argaty Red Kite Project
• Williamwood Farm

Political Advocate of the Year Award:

• Kate Forbes MSP
• Lewis McDonald MSP
• Mairi Gougeon MSP
• Dr Ruth Tingay
• Dr Tom Dargie

RSPB Young Nature Champion Award:

• Alasdair Lemon
• Kathleen McMillan
• Robert Walsh
• Ross McIlwrath
• Xander Johnston

Sustainable Development Award:

• Barratts provides new homes for people and wildlife in Aberdeen
• Easterhouse Fossorial Water Vole Relocations
• European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre Scientific Research Programme
• Scottish Water – leaving a sustainable and thriving natural legacy

Youth & Education Award:

• Curriculum Outdoors Attainment Challenge (COACh) East Ayrshire school’s
• Lambhill stables
• Our Lady’s Primary Schools #WildBottleSighting Campaign Success!
• Reviving Rossie – Awakening a Secret Wood
• SOC/Isle of May Bird Observatory Young Birders’ Training Course
• Sunnyside Primary: The Glasgow school leading the charge against plastics
  The Shieling Project – off-grid learning centre connecting heritage, nature, sustainability
• ‘Wild about Scotland’ an outreach programme connecting people with Scotland’s amazing biodiversity

Category Descriptions

• Business Award
  This award will recognise and celebrate businesses, large and small, that can clearly demonstrate what they have done for the benefit of nature in Scotland. We are looking at businesses that stand out from the crowd by doing things differently and the application is judged based on the impact delivered in proportion to the size of business and available resource.
• Community Initiative Award
  This award will go to an outstanding community-based initiative that clearly demonstrates what they have done for the benefit of nature. The project should be developed and led by the people it serves, acting as an inspiration to others and offering real value to the whole community.
• Food & Farming Award
  The way our food is produced can have negative impacts on the environment. But some individuals, businesses and organisations are doing things differently; taking steps to reduce their own environmental footprint and helping consumers make good food choices. Whether that’s wildlife-friendly farmers, for example, or cafes and caterers reducing food waste and carefully sourcing ingredients, this award celebrates our sustainable food champions.
• Innovation Award
  Awarded to the most innovative project, initiative, practice, or technique (management or otherwise) that has aided nature conservation. Entries for this award need to stand out as being different – perhaps you have pioneered a project that is the first of its kind or you have approached something that has been done before in a new way.
• Nature Tourism Award
  This award will go to a nature-based tourism organisation or initiative that stands above its peers for its contribution to conservation. The winner will provide more than a wildlife experience, demonstrating a significant and lasting contribution to nature conservation in Scotland. Tour companies, accommodation providers, attractions, wildlife guides and engagement activities are all welcome to apply. Please remember to provide results.
• Political Advocate of the Year Award
  This award is to recognise and celebrate the movers and shakers who go beyond the day-to-day to ensure our natural heritage is not only protected but enhanced for all and future generations. They might be a politician, be it Councillor, MSP, MP or MEP; a campaigner from an environmental NGO; a dedicated public servant or an extraordinary active individual who cares
• RSPB Young Nature Champion Award
  In recognition of the Year of Young People 2018, this award celebrates the achievements of young people (aged 8 to 26) making a positive impact on nature in Scotland. To be shortlisted for this award the entrant must have demonstrated what they have done for the benefit of nature, highlighting achievements and positive results.
• Sustainable Development Award
  Nominations in this category will show how research, initiative, planning or development has had a positive effect on nature conservation linked to Scotland. Shortlisted projects may have been engaged in a successful consultation prior to a development, developed an innovative new policy or perhaps you have delivered habitat management or species protection on the ground.
• Youth & Education Award
  This award honours schools and youth groups which can demonstrate how they have made a real difference to the conservation and sustainability of Scotland’s wildlife and habitats. These projects need to show through evidence and outcomes what they have done in nature, through nature, about nature and for nature.

The Nature of Scotland Awards are sponsored by: Scottish Natural Heritage, Greenpower, The James Hutton Institute, Balfour Beatty, Scottish Water, ScottishPower, The Ardmore, National Trust for Scotland, and Turcan Connell and supported by: RTPI Scotland, Wild Scotland, Holyrood Communications, Buglife, The University of Edinburgh, BBC Landward, Scottish Wildlife Trust, CSPP, YoungScot, SCDI, The Botanist, Kabloom, Nourish Scotland, SCVO, and Year of Young People.

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