For the first time, the LCG were gently persuaded to put themselves forward for the annual Lincolnshire Environmental Awards. This annual event is run by Lindum Rotary Club in partnership with the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and recognises and rewards the wide variety of efforts being put into protecting and helping the environment in the Lincolnshire area
We were entered for the Community and Groups section and were shortlisted
from 6 other entrants in this category. Just 2 entrants in this group
were asked to give a presentation to the judging panel consisting of a
number of distinguished individuals including Dr David Bellamy, a patron of
the awards.
The initial entry report was drawn up by Nicola Farr, with help from Nick Dunnett. This was a 300 word summary of our activities and achievements which the panel used to shortlist the entrants. When we heard we had been shortlisted, the hard work began and was undertaken by Nick Dunnett and Jude White who prepared a verbal presentation with input and encouragement from Richard Davidson. We also updated our presentation boards ready for a display to be set up at the event.
The presentations took place at the Bentley Hotel on Thursday 5th June.
Nick and Jude set up the boards and display in the morning and then stayed
to watch the presentations by various schools competing for the Young
Environmentalist Awards (eventually won by North Kesteven School). The
main presentations were in the afternoon and Nick & Jude were joined by
Nicola, Delphine, Julian and David Howard, a founding member of the group,
for the presentations. There were 8 presentations in all, with 2 from
each group representing Agricultural, Business, Individuals and ours,
Community & Groups.
We were scheduled to be the 6th presentation, so had a wait while the other entrants put their cases in a wide range of presentation styles from a professionally made flashy video, to bits of paper being handed round (presentation style wasn't being judged thankfully!). Finally, Jude & Nick were on and gave an interesting and well polished talk on what we were about and how our tasks contributed to the conservation of the landscape and our contributions to the community, using a projected backdrop of images taken from the website to illustrate our activities. They even managed to stick to the 8 minute allocated time, unlike most of the other presenters. After that, we were free to go, to prepare ourselves for the evening dinner and the official announcements of the winners and presentation of the awards.
Back at the Bentley for 7pm in our 'lounge suits' as requested (closest
approximations anyway!). We sat at our allocated table along with 2
couples from the Rotary club. We enjoyed a 3 course dinner before steeling
ourselves for the official announcements and presentations. Dr David
Bellamy gave a typically enthusiastic speech consisting of a summary of his
latest antics (still a very busy man, even in his 70's) and praise for all
the entrants (Wow! wow! wow!, was his catchphrase!)
Then the winners were announced, slowly and painfully it seemed. "And the
winner for Community & Groups category is..."
Grantham Angling Club
Oh well, can't win 'em, all. But we still got a framed award
certificate and recognition that our conservation efforts are appreciated.
The 'unsung heroes' of the environment. We go in and keep things
running once the shine of a new project has worn off.
So,
not the winners, but shortlisted from 6 other community & group entrants and
from a total of 40 entrants. It shows there is a lot of work and
interest going into caring for the environment, and that's just in
Lincolnshire. We could enter again next year, but we are not after the
glory necessarily, nor an award for tenacity. An interesting experience all
round.
Julian
