Award Winners 2021
In 2021 we received some fantastic entries across all our categories, read about the winners below.
Green Hero: Debbie Bartlett
Debbie Bartlett founded Litter-Free Felixstowe, a volunteer-based community interest group, in 2018 after being motivated by the Blue Planet series. Debbie’s drive, imagination, skills, determination and passion have grown the group to over 1,100 members, and has motivated schools, colleges and businesses (both local and international) to get involved. Fittingly, her work has even received support and encouragement from her original inspiration, Sir David Attenborough.
What the judges said: “Debbie is a remarkable lady, inspiring so many people and making such a difference to our community. The work she does within schools to educate children is key to tackling the environmental issues we face a
Enhancing Biodiversity and Landscape: Suffolk Wildlife Trust Carlton Marshes
Carlton Marshes was once a damaged, former arable landscape in the Broads National Park, but Suffolk Wildlife Trust has transformed this 1,000 acre site into a Broadland reserve, safeguarding three European designated wetlands and bolstering populations of nationally rare species.
What the judges said: “Exemplary in every way. This project has considered both the environmental and human needs thereby ensuring it will be valued and enjoyed for years to come.”
Greenest Business: Precision
By integrating technology and using data-driven marketing, direct mail, specialist ecommerce fulfilment and enterprise learning to build full knowledge for brands through all of their sales channels, Precision works from a carbon neutral base in Bury St Edmunds.
What the judges said: “Precision is leading the way towards net zero in the print and direct marketing sector. Onsite renewables powering the factory, charging the EV fleet, and even employees’ own cars. They demonstrated a huge range of activity from waste reduction to water use, vegetable-based inks and promoting carbon neutral products to help customers achieve their own sustainability goals.”
Greenest Small Business: Skyview Systems
This small, family-run company based in Sudbury is committed to minimising their environmental impact, whether they’re carrying out installation or calibration services for commercial clients, or supplying home weather stations for ecommerce customers.
What the judges said: “Skyview Systems’ short and long term goals were well thought through and ambitious. Their past and future efforts to reduce carbon emissions are impressive, in terms of how their business operates, their business product and their commitment to involving staff both professionally and personally. All alongside ambitions next year for also embracing wildlife and biodiversity, by developing a wild garden on their property.”
Greenest School: Alde Valley Academy
Alde Valley Academy’s vision is to become an Outstanding school and enable students to realise their full potential and prepare them to become responsible, successful citizens. By ramping up their student and staff awareness and engagement with environmental issues, they are reducing their environmental impact across the school and in their community.
What the judges said: “Great involvement from everyone with ambition for the future to drive to net zero carbon. They’ve used a clear goal to focus efforts and engage the whole school.”
Greenest Community: The Suffolk Tree Warden Network
The Suffolk Tree Warden Network is composed of volunteer Tree Champions who work with local councils and other community groups to plant, promote and care for trees across the county. As well as planting and protecting trees, they empower others to do the same, and act as a point of focus. Each planting season, in partnership with Suffolk County Council (SCC) and The Woodland Trust (WT), they distribute trees and hedge plants, get them safely in the ground and ensure they are looked after in the future.
What the judges said: “This wide-ranging project had the advantage of having a positive effect across many communities throughout the whole of Suffolk. It has a lot of support, with many more parishes across Suffolk now having a Tree Warden. Its range of influence and high ambitions to change the landscape of the county by involving local communities gave it the edge in an extremely high quality field of nominations.”
Derek Moore Award: Steve Piotrowski
This is awarded by Suffolk County Council in recognition of outstanding service to Suffolk’s environment.
Steve is a renowned naturalist and perhaps best known for leading a conservation campaign to increase the population of barn owls in the county. Through Steve’s tenacity and ability to encourage others to support him the team ended up mounting 1,800 boxes and at least a third of those are now occupied. The barn owl population in Suffolk has since increased to 460, which is a ten-fold increase.
What the judges said: “The true value of Steve’s work and the way he approaches it is that he combines scientific rigour with the ability to inspire and engage others to care about our natural world and motivate them to take action. One of Suffolk’s great green heroes.”
Waste Reduction and Recycling: Still Good Food
Still Good Food is an organisation which sources surplus stock and food past its best before date and then sells it for a minimum donation at their two shops in West Suffolk. By working closely with other charities, local businesses and farmers, their network of incredibly motivated and committed volunteers keeps food out of the bin and on people’s plates!
What the judges said: “Great initiative which supports reducing waste and engages with providing resources for those impacted by food poverty.”