5 local community projects receive CPRE Gloucestershire award

Local projects across Gloucestershire received recognition in the form of a CPRE Gloucestershire Award this week. Now in its 14^th year, the awards celebrate initiatives across the county that enhance the environment and the community.

Five awards were presented this year, at an awards ceremony on Wednesday 10^th November at Gambier Parry Hall in Highnam. Each project received a certificate and a plaque for display at the project site.

The award recipients were:

Leaf & Ground

Leaf & Ground in Dursley is a former garden centre and the adjoining land has been transformed into an outstanding visitor destination.  At its heart is a high-quality new garden centre and shop, a delicatessen and café, and visitors can also enjoy a lakeside walk and more extensive trails over 20 acres including woodland. Children can play in the fort and there are 32 allotments for the local community.

Llanthony Secunda Priory

The Llanthony Secunda Priory Trust received an award for its sensitive restoration of this Augustinian Priory founded in 1136, as well as the landscaped grounds which include a re-imagining of a medieval physic garden.

Ozleworth Park Estate

Ozleworth Park Estate received an award for their ambitious project to improve the environment of the estate and to manage it sustainably. Their work has embraced extensive drystone walling, hedgerow restoration and new planting, new areas of woodland, new ponds, management and restoration of limestone grassland and measures to support pollinators and farmland birds. The project has admirably demonstrated that farming and conservation can go hand in hand.

Large Blue Butterfly

This project reintroducing the large blue butterfly to Rodborough Common and the Cotswold landscape is the largest single re-introduction so far. Meticulous research and partnership working went into this project to ensure the exacting habitat requirements of the butterfly could be created and sustained.

Robinswood Hill

The Robinswood Hill welcome and visitor centre, the home of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust’s HQ, was the fifth project to receive an award. This community space and café runs events and education programmes for young people and school groups, and provides a lovely community space for visitors to the hill.

Projects nominated for a CPRE Gloucestershire Award must demonstrate sustainability, involve improvements to the environment and be visible from public places. CPRE’s independent panel of judges review every nomination received based on these criteria.

More details and photos of our award recipients and event, and how to nominate a project here