The Awards, part of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s Wilder Festival, are a celebration of the amazing individuals, schools, and businesses who have been extraordinary ambassadors for nature over the years. There will be recognition for people who have volunteered on the Trust’s nature reserves, planted wildflowers, inspired the next generation, and encouraged others to make changes for wildlife where they live and work.
This year, three businesses have been shortlisted for the Wilder Business Award, from a list of 10 nominations, made by staff from across the Trust. To be nominated, companies must have been working with and/or supporting the Trust. They were scored on a number of criteria including their commitment to a wilder future, how they were creating more space for nature, encouraging others to take action for wildlife and their commitment to reduce pressures on the environment.
After much deliberation by the panel, which included CEO Debbie Tann, Director of Marketing & Fundraising Catherine Day and Corporate Partnerships Manager Michelle Duma, the shortlisted for the Wilder Business Award category are:
- Greenhouse Graphics – a graphic communications company based in Basingstoke in North Hampshire. They are widely recognised as a leading centre for sustainable graphic communications in the UK. An actively environmentally vigilant company, Greenhouse has been working with and supporting the Trust for a number of years and is committed to protecting biodiversity and minimising their ecological impact.
- Hildon Ltd – supplier of natural mineral water, Hildon pride themselves on the pristine taste of their product and their defence of the rich diversity of wildlife around them. They are involved in a number of ways, from beekeeping and tree planting to the use of renewable energy and supporting youth engagement through our Wildlife Watch scheme. Hildon understand the importance of nature to their business and is striving to protect it.
- Southern Co-op – long term partners of the Trust, Southern Co-op puts sustainability at the heart of everything it does and is committed to helping build a fairer society and more sustainable world. They have been an important partner in the introduction and rollout of the Trust’s flagship Team Wilder programme and have taken great steps on their own estate to understand and enhance the biodiversity that lives there.
The Trust is hoping that the awards will help give people new ideas on ways to make their community wilder. The projects being celebrated in the Wilder Awards will also showcase the real difference these actions can make for nature locally. The online ceremony will allow people to tune in to see who takes home the awards from each of the eight categories and draw inspiration from their work.
For more information and to book your free tickets to the Wilder Festival and Annual Awards visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wilder-festival-and-annual-awards-tickets-154532004385
