With just a week to go before the Nature of Scotland Awards 2023, today we're telling you five facts you might not know about these annual awards.
They have been running for 12 years! These prestigious conservation awards started in 2011, and are co-sponsored by NatureScot. There have been a variety of categories across the years including, Nature and Climate Action, Health and Wellbeing and Coasts and Waters, each designed to celebrate individuals, business and projects going above and beyond for nature and climate in their area. The awards are made possible because of our amazing sponsors and supporters.
The ceremony went digital. In 2020 and 2021 when in person events weren’t possible, the Nature of Scotland Awards turned to online streaming! People up and down the country tuned into the awards from their living rooms, sending in photos of dogs in bowties, glasses of champagne and cups of tea, and ballgown and baffie combos.
The trophies from the 2022 Awards.
The trophies are made from wood cut at our Loch Garten nature reserve. These beautiful trophies are crafted with personalised metal leaves by silversmith Bryony Knox. Having such a strong connection to Scottish nature makes them extra special. After this year’s ceremony a total of 103 awards will have been handed out!
There’s always a famous face or two to spot. The ceremony is hosted by big names from the conservation world. This year zoologist, wildlife TV presenter and RSPB Ambassador Megan McCubbin and TV presenter and nature enthusiast JJ Chalmers will present the awards. Previous hosts include Chris Packham, Iolo Williams and Kate Humble.
Previous winners have gone on to do big things! Sunnyside Primary who won the youth and Education Award in 2019, went on to be involved with COP26 in Glasgow, and were voted Nature Champions of the Decade by a public vote on the 10th anniversary Nature of Scotland Awards. Lynbreck Croft, a 150-acre croft near Grantown on Spey, with a vision of 'farming with nature for healthy land and living' won the Food and Farming Award in 2019, and have since appeared in BBC2’s ‘This Farming Life’ and have written a book called ‘Our Wild Farming Life’. Ury Riverside Park which won Best Community Initiative in 2022 have seen increased footfall within the park and more visits to their website and Facebook page. New walking routes are being developed across the park and they have successfully secured National Lottery Awards for All funding of £6900 for biological monitoring equipment and people counters to help monitor the site.
The 2022 Nature of Scotland Awards winners.
Main image: An Otter in yellow seaweed. Ben Andrew.