Cash awards for Berkshire’s nature and community projects

Community groups across Berkshire with projects that improve their local area for both people and wildlife have the chance to win grants to help them succeed with their vision.

The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust is calling on all local community and environmental groups to apply for the Dorothy Morley Conservation Award 2016. Applicants will have the chance to win the award with £1000 grant to go towards the winning project. One runner up will also receive a grant of £500. The closing date for applications is 31 May. Judging will be held in June and the winners announced in July. 

Daniel Akam, Berkshire Community Wildlife Officer, explains: “Applicants can be residents’ groups, village societies, conservation groups or any other group in Berkshire working on a local nature and wildlife project, no matter how big or small. They could be digging ponds, planting hedgerows and trees, making new trails and enabling wildlife to thrive close to where they live; the key element is that it must be in a publicly accessible place.”
The Award scheme highlights all the superb work done by volunteers for the benefit of their local community and wildlife. Successful winners in the past find that the publicity and the grant had a really positive effect on the popularity of their local green spaces and for the communities that use them.

The Mumbery Nature Reserve Volunteers in Wargrave received the Dorothy Morley Conservation Award in 2014. Ian Bradley from the group explained what happened next:  “The award really helped put Mumbery nature reserve on the map. The funding enabled us to create a new interpretation board giving information about the reserve and what to look for throughout the year.  The Piggott School Sixth Form design students helped with the design work; it's great to get everyone in the community involved.”
The bi-annual Dorothy Morley Conservation Award scheme is a tribute to the memory of dedicated conservationist Dorothy Morley who lived near Newbury. It was set up in 2000 and continues to support local groups and their projects thanks to the outstanding generosity of the Morley family.

Visit Dorothy Morley Conservation Award for full details, or email dmaward@bbowt.org.uk. Application packs are also available from the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust, Woolley Firs, Cherry Garden Lane, Maidenhead, SL6 3LJ. More information from Daniel Akam, Community Wildlife Officer, 01628 829574 ext. 202.