Given the current climate and biodiversity crises, we recognise that communities play an integral role in the conservation and regeneration of our once flourishing local green spaces. Nationally, The Wildlife Trusts aim to have at least 30% of land and sea connected and protected for nature's recovery in Surrey and across the UK by 2030, while our mission is to get 1 in 4 people to take action for nature. We know we can't achieve these goals in isolation: by bringing community groups together, we strive to create a powerful nature network.
On Thursday 3rd August 2023, Surrey Wildlife Trust hosted the Community Celebratory Evening and announced the winners of the Community Champion Awards. The Trust hosted the Awards to celebrate the individual and collective actions being taken for nature by Surrey community groups.
As guests began to arrive the atmosphere was buoyant. With ample time for networking, community groups shared ideas and admiration for each others' achievements. Attendees perused the gallery of display boards lining the space, learning from the successes and challenges faced by the other groups in attendance. Communities shared the range of different actions they've been taking for nature, including encouraging people to care for natural pollinators, conducting river pollution testing and developing biodiversity action plans alongside local authorities.
The event saw almost 90 individuals from 35 different community groups come together with a collective goal: to support nature's recovery.