After our AGM on the 14th January 2025, we hosted our first edition of the BVCT awards, celebrating the successes of volunteers, local groups and particular species across the length of our valley.
We were kindly joined by the deputy mayor of Sandhurst, Cllr Paul Widdowson and the chair of the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership, Cllr Adrian Collett, who presented our awards.
We presented awards in four categories, with the winners giving presentations on the night.
Conservation Project of the Year
Nominees:
- Bog Rescue at Rowhill Nature Reserve
- River Restoration at Shawfields
- Grassland enhancement at Runfold Ridge
And our winner was Floating Pennywort eradication at sites along the River Blackwater. The award was presented to Martin from the Loddon Fisheries & Conservation Consultative
Access to Nature Project of the Year
Nominees:
- Blandford Sang, a joint project between the BVCP and the Land Trust
- Cove Greenway Fun Day
- Tice’s Meadow social media
And our winner was Queen Elizabeth Park community events. The award was present to Lynne from the friends of Queen Elizabeth park.
Local Group of the Year
Nominees:
- BVCP Thursday volunteers
- Moor Green Lakes group
- Southwood Woodland improvement group
And our winner was the Friends of Brickfields group. Sadly, they were unable to attend the event but their award will be passed on.
Species of the Year
Nominees:
- Coot, the proud representative of the Valley
- Greater Yellow rattle, a rare species that was found in the valley for the first time this year
- Self-Heal, a common grassland species that was abundant this year
- Southern Marsh Orchid, which put on a fine show at Southwood country park thanks to the damp summer
And our winner were Noctules, with one of the biggest colonies in England residing in Wellesley Woods. We were unable to get a single representative from the bat population, so the award was presented to Steve Bailey on their behalf!
There was also a Lifetime achievement award for the Trusts very own Bernard Baverstock. For very many years he has been involved with conservation work across the Valley drawing on his knowledge and his considerable practical skills to protect and promote the Valley’s wildlife. He has an unparalleled breadth of knowledge across many species, both faunal and floral, and sites. He is always willing to share this, and to help others to understand the wonders of nature which so fascinate him.
For a long time he was the chair of Camberley Natural History Society organising meetings, talks and field trips. Until recently he was mammal recorder at Moor Green Lakes.
He has been a trustee of the BVCT since 2008, heading the Trust’s work on conservation projects and surveys, among other things leading bird- and bee-box making days and bat walks, enthusing children with pond-dipping and owl pellet dissection, leading our swift project, and helping to establish community gardens in a variety of locations. He has organised, led and taken part, for the Trust and other organisations, in very many practical tasks including planting trees, meadow plants and hedges, heathland and pond clearances, and carried out surveys of trees, reptiles, birds and bats. He also manages his garden in the suburbs of Camberley as a haven for wildlife.
Congratulations, Bernard. Very well deserved.
