Land Trust Awards return in Northampton

The Land Trust’s annual awards ceremony which recognises achievements across the charity’s 80 parks and green spaces returned in-person for 2021.

This year there were 12 awards up for grabs, with the coveted Site of the Year award shared by Weetslade Country Park and Beaulieu. Each award was presented to the winners by Reverend Dan Pierce, who plays a vital part in developing the community at Beaulieu.

This year’s Ranger of the Year was awarded to Michaella Hulley, whose hard work and dedication has seen vast improvements on the three Trust sites she manages and particularly on Rabbit Ings Country Park.

As a charity who works to improve the lives of communities and individuals across the country, the Land Trust added a new category this year to recognise the most inclusive space in its portfolio.

This first award was shared by Knowle Haven Nature Reserve and Countess of Chester Country Park. Knowle Haven was a fantastic space for the residents of Knowle to use during the pandemic, many of whom don’t have their own gardens, welcoming all who wanted to visit the space and enjoy the benefits of spending time outdoors.

Knowle Haven also welcomes activities and events on site for a local charity supporting adults with learning disabilities. Countess of Chester Country Park hosts a vast array of different activities on a weekly basis while the paths are fully accessible for less able visitors while the volunteering sessions focus on physical and mental health and are fully inclusive.

Alan Carter, Director of Operations at the Land Trust, said:
“It was wonderful to be able to get together with our Managing Partners and volunteers and celebrate everything we were able to accomplish together over the last 18 months.

“Last year wasn’t easy for anyone, and for those working on our sites there was the added pressure of making sure our sites remained open and safe throughout the pandemic. I’m incredibly proud that only did they manage this but also delivered so much more that was of huge benefit to the communities who live and work around our spaces.

“It was incredibly difficult to choose some of the winners this year having heard about some fantastic achievements across our portfolio, and I’d just like to say thank you to everyone who has helped on our sites over the last year. We couldn’t have done it without you.”

You can see a full list of this year’s winners below. Keep an eye on our website and social media channels over the next few days where we’ll be looking in more depth at some of the great work of this year’s award winners.

For a full list of winners, please see below:

Community Space of the Year
• WINNER – Merlin Park
• HIGHLY COMMENDED – Twywell Hills and Dales

Nature Space of the Year
• WINNER – Oliver Road Lagoons and Twywell Hills and Dales

Health Space of the Year
• WINNER – Avenue Country Park

Educational Space of the Year
• WINNER – Wellesley Woodlands
• HIGHLY COMMENDED – Warrington

Site delivering best Economical Activity
• WINNER – St Michael’s Hurst

Most Improved Space
• WINNER – Hassall Green Nature Reserve
• HIGHLY COMMENDED – Weetslade Country Park

Most Inclusive Space
• WINNER – Knowle Haven and Countess of Chester Country Park
Best Friends of/Community group
• WINNER – Westbrook and Callands Communities, Warrington

Volunteer of the Year
• WINNER – Morag Scargill
• HIGHLY COMMENDED – Neil Fisher and Stephanie Duffy

Project of the Year (voted for by Managing Partners)
• WINNER – Steps restoration at Northumberlandia
• HIGHLY COMMENDED – Denise Coates Foundation at Hassall Green

Ranger of the Year
• WINNER – Michaella Hulley

Site of the Year
• WINNER – Weetslade Country Park and Beaulieu

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