Andy Scargill, Countess of Chester Volunteer, nominated for Echo Environment Award

The Land Trust’s Director of Portfolio Management, Alan Carter, has paid tribute to passionate volunteer Andy Scargill, after he was shortlisted for Environmental Champion at the Echo Environment Awards 2020.

The award, sponsored by United Utilities, recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to their local environment and Andy is more than worthy of a nomination for the incredible effort and commitment he has put into making Countess of Chester Country Park so successful.

Carter said:

“Andy is a shining example of a passionate volunteer who works so hard to make such a positive difference in their community. Quite simply without his passion and dedication it would be fair to say we wouldn’t achieve half of the things that we do at Countess of Chester Country Park.

“He is involved in so many aspects of life at the Park in his role as Chair of the Friends of Group whether it be taking part in the site’s weekly volunteering activities, working on new health trails for the park or being a real driving force behind the incredible Fallen for the Fallen trail which opened on the site in 2018

“He is a firm believer that green spaces can make a huge difference to the lives of people that use them but also that it is vitally important that we protect the nature, wildlife and biodiversity that thrives there.”

Andy first got involved with Countess of Chester Country Park as far back as 2011 but it wasn’t until he joined the Friends group in 2017 that he became more active.

Andy said:

“For many years I have seen myself as an environmental champion and local campaigner on green issues, and this is something that I am immensely proud of.

“When the idea of a country park behind the Countess of Chester Hospital was first launched, I immediately saw this as something I wanted to be a part of and support. To me it formed an important component in the vision for a greener Chester that many people were beginning to have.

“It wasn’t until 2017 however when we launched the Friends of the Park group that I was able to become more proactive and since then I haven’t looked back. With others, I have helped lead an amazing bunch of volunteers from all walks of life who have really made a difference.

“I have lost count of the number of times people have come up to us to say that they love the park and that there is always something new. I am equally proud that it is now a place of calm and well-being for so many people and through creating and improving habitats it has grown as an important site for biodiversity locally.”