Enter Trust’s environment awards

As I walked along Burton Road in Lincoln one blustery afternoon I wondered how long it would be until the swifts returned? 

How long until we hear their screaming calls as they scythe through the sky? They are currently in Central Africa, flying high above the forests of the Congo River Basin. 

They haven’t landed since they were here last August. They are remarkable birds but what will they be faced with when they return? Like swallows, house martins and a host of other birds that fly here for the summer, they feed on insects. Will there be enough insects for them? 

Wildlife faces a huge crisis, not just here but across the globe. At times, we may feel helpless and powerless to do anything about it. 

But, there are those who are making a tangible difference. There are communities who are making Lincolnshire a little bit wilder: creating wild flower areas for pollinators and other insects, putting up bird boxes, making bug hotels and digging ponds. Some are growing their own organic vegetables to share with their community, making use of water butts and compost bins. 

Places like Liquorice Park in Lincoln, Hardwick Scrub and Ingleby Clay near Saxilby, Monks Wood on Ashing Lane near Dunholme – these and more have been created and are cared for by local people. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things to help wildlife and to create places so people access to natural greenspaces on their doorstep.

These are the communities we would like to hear from for the Lincolnshire Environmental Awards 2025. They are our way of saying thank you to the community groups that are making a difference in our county and by championing their efforts we also hope they will act as a rallying cry to encourage others to do more for nature. 

Community groups, parish councils, gardening clubs, church groups from the villages, towns and cities across the county are invited to enter the Awards. To share what they have achieved so far and to join us in celebrating those achievements. 

Last year’s winner was Cherry Fields at cherry Willingham, which has been running for eight years and encompasses woodland, wildflower meadow, a fruit orchard, wildlife ponds and river access alongside a cycle track, picnic sites, natural play features, a dog exercise area and more, was highlighted by the judges for achieving the perfect but tricky balance between providing for people and wildlife.

The initial entry is simply using our online form to tell us what you’ve done and share a few photos. Finalists will then be visited by our team of judges so they can see your greenspace and meet members of the community. 

The Lincolnshire Environmental Awards are organised by the Rotary Club of Lindum, Lincoln, and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. Thanks to the support and sponsorship from Pennells Gardens Centres, we are able to run the Awards and offer prizes of £300 for winning community and £150 for two runners-up. 

Find out more and enter the Lincolnshire Environmental Awards at lincstrust.org.uk/lincs-environmental-awards The deadline for entries is Monday, June 16

Above are busy volunteers enjoying their community gardening. Picture: Penny Dixie

Below are tree saplings on Hardwick Scrub: Saxilby Nature Project