2020 Awards programme

Our CPRE Hertfordshire Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and groups who have worked to protect, promote and enhance the Hertfordshire countryside for the benefit of their local communities and the environment.

Pandemic restrictions impacted how we were able to conduct our Awards programme and meant we were unable to conduct an awards presentation event as we would have liked.  We have instead tried to give these outstanding individuals and groups the recognition and thanks they deserve in a ‘virtual’ ceremony, hosted by our Chairman Richard Bullen, which can be viewed here.

Selecting the 2020 Award recipients from the impressive group of nominations presented our judges with quite a challenge, but we are pleased to share both the nominees and the Award recipients in this summary. We extend our appreciation to every nominee for their achievement.

1. The Peterkin Award

For an individual who has done the most for the environment or their community.

Our thanks and appreciation to this year’s nominees:

• Gary Ansell and Ann Johnson of Kings Langley, nominated for their work to protect the Gade Valley.
• Kevin Glogner of Hare Street, nominated for his work on The Hormeads Recreational Ground.
• Christine James of Ashwell, for her conservation work at Ashwell Quarry, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Our Commendation goes to Christine James of Ashwell for her broad knowledge of practical conservation, her willingness to consider ideas for the care of the natural environment and her voluntary contribution to the management and restoration of the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust Reserve at Ashwell Quarry.

The Peterkin Award recipient is Kevin Glogner.

Kevin is a Parish Councillor and gardener, but his care of The Hormeads Recreational Ground is his voluntary contribution to the community. Kevin and his team of volunteers have refurbished the Ground’s pavilion, restored the machinery shed, organised planting and revamped the children’s play area. Kevin has also donated a bench and three flowering trees. His skills and knowledge have transformed Hormeads Recreational Ground into a beautiful and thriving community area enjoyed by locals and visitors of all ages.

On receiving The Peterkin Award, Kevin said:

‘Hopefully it will encourage and incentivise others to become more involved. Not only are we creating a much nicer environment for us all to live in, but also building a stronger community base as well.’

2. The Environment Award

For a group that has improved their local environment.

Our thanks and appreciation to this year’s nominees:

• Hogline, Bishops Stortford, which looks after sick and injured hedgehogs, and returns them to the wild.
• Stevenage Youth Council, which runs campaigns throughout the year, the most recent focussing on climate change, the reduction of plastic waste and encouraging awareness on saving water.
• The Friends of the Nickey Line, who help maintain this former railway line running between Hemel Hempstead, Redbourn and Harpenden, as a wildlife corridor and a safe route for walkers and cyclists.
• The Friends of Halsey Field, who manage Halsey Field to protect its plants and wildlife.
• Sherrardspark Wood Wardens, who protect and help manage this historic award-winning wood and local nature reserve.
• The Friends of the Rib and Quin, who are dedicated to improving the plight of local chalk streams and raising awareness of these important and rare river environments.

Our Commendation goes to The Friends of the Nickey Line for their conservation work and nurturing the Nickey Line as a wildlife corridor. Without their work it could become overgrown, without light and views.

The Environment Award recipient is The Friends of Halsey Field

Chris Ridley and her husband recognised Halsey Field as a unique site which needed to be preserved, so in 2015 The Friends of Halsey Field was established with Chris as Chair. Soon after, the field was declared a Local Wildlife Site. With grants and tools provided by The Boxmoor Trust and The Chiltern Society, and a survey by the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust, Chris and her team of dedicated volunteers follow a management plan for Halsey Field to maintain it as a protected nature habitat. It is an exceptional conservation project.

On receiving The Environment Award, Chris said:

‘I think it will help secure its future. It will show the council what a wonderful place it is and that it needs to be preserved.’

3. The Community Award

For a group that has improved life for people in the local community.

Our thanks and appreciation to this year’s nominees:

• CDA Community Garden, St Albans, which engages local groups to promote community cohesion and wellbeing.
• Goffs Oak Community Library, which provides a fully functioning library run by volunteers to benefit the local community.
• Jackie’s Drop In Centre, which provides adults with disabilities a safe place to meet, learn skills and pursue activities.
• North Herts Youth Council (NHYC), which enables young people to get involved and ‘have their say’ on local and national issues, and to experience the democratic process.
• The Hundred Parishes Society, which raises awareness and enjoyment of the rich heritage of northwest Essex, northeast Hertfordshire and southern Cambridgeshire, and promotes and facilitates its conservation.

Our Commendation goes to Goff’s Oak Library for the benefits and inspiration that the Library brings to the community across the age spectrum – from young children at the Library and in schools, to the elderly. The Library’s volunteers put the needs of the community at the very heart of what they do.

The Community Award recipient is Jackie’s Drop In Centre

Jackie’s Drop In, a registered charity, is a centre for adults with learning disabilities based in Letchworth. It was founded in 2012 by Jackie Nealon, a support worker who recognised that adults with learning disabilities would benefit from having a safe place to meet, learn skills and pursue activities. The centre currently has 400 clients from across the county as members and can welcome 56 people a day (as well as family members and carers) to participate in a variety of activities. Staffed by nearly 20 volunteers, the Drop In is entirely self-funded and receives donations of equipment and surplus food.

On receiving The Community Award, Jackie said:

‘It’s fantastic! It gets us known out there more.’

4. The Rural Business in the Community Award

For a rural business that has contributed to the life of its community.

Our thanks and appreciation to this year’s nominees:

• B. Green, village store, coffee shop and community hub.
• Tewin Stores and Café, a community shop run by volunteers and a registered Industrial and Provident Society.

The Business Award recipient is B. Green

Carla Irving and Victoria Helling opened B. Green in Birch Green in December 2019 to provide a shop and a village hub with an emphasis on sustainability. B. Green offers reduced food miles and package-free and refillable items, as well as a café with free Wi-Fi and an interactive space for a book exchange, book groups and craft groups. As the Covid pandemic took hold, Carla and Victoria dramatically changed their business model. They converted the café to a packing area for fresh fruit and vegetables (many locally sourced), essentials and scarce commodities which they delivered free throughout the village providing an invaluable service to the local community.

On receiving The Business Award, Carla and Victoria said:

‘It’s recognition for the whole community. Hopefully people will share in that.’

5. The Chairman’s Award

Our Chairman Richard Bullen has selected his choice from all the CPRE Hertfordshire Award categories.

The Chairman’s Award recipient is Tewin Stores and Café

Established in 1865, Tewin Stores is a community shop that has been run by the community for the community on a not-for-profit basis since 2007. Today the shop is owned by The Tewin Stores Association and managed by a Committee of six. It has a paid part-time manager and a volunteer workforce of around 40 local people. During the Covid lockdown, the store remained open seven days a week albeit with reduced hours and a reduced volunteer workforce.  They sourced and organised deliveries of fruit and vegetables, many grown locally, as well as essentials. It is a great example of a local business supporting its community.

On receiving The Chairman’s Award, Peter Miller, Chairman of the Management Committee, Tewin Stores said:

‘This gives us a great opportunity to advertise the many services that we offer and range of products that we offer too.  Also, we hope to promote the opportunity to volunteer’.

Once again, we’d like to thank all of the nominees and congratulate the Award recipients. Their hard work and dedication are an inspiration to everyone.

We would also like to extend our thanks and appreciation to the team who made our Awards programme possible this year despite all the difficulties of the pandemic.  The team includes our Lead Judges Elizabeth Hamilton, Dorothy Abel Smith and Jo Simson, our Judges Simon Odell, Gini Trower, Dione Verulam and Janie Wentworth Stanley, our Filmmaker Henry Mitchell, and our Office Manager & Programme Coordinator Gill Bryant.