The CIWEM Living Wetlands Award recognises multi-functional
projects that demonstrate the sustainable use of wetland
habitats. The award was co-founded with RSPB in 2002/3.
The 2012 award is now closed.
Closing date - 20th January 2012
Entry Criteria
UK projects that are either work-in-progress or complete are
eligible.
To be eligible for the Award, projects must:
- contribute to the delivery of priority UK Biodiversity Action
Plan (BAP) species and habitat targets for wetlands
- demonstrate sustainability and delivery of multiple benefits
e.g. flood alleviation, wastewater treatment, recreation,
eco-tourism, water resource security
- ensure no priority BAP species or habitats are harmed by the
project
In addition, it is desirable that projects:
- contribute to increases in numbers of breeding wading birds
(e.g. redshank, snipe, lapwing) and/or other threatened wetland
species
- contribute to the restoration of floodplain functions
- include a programme for education or promotion/dissemination of
the work
- constitute a new area of work for the entrant, or add value
beyond the normal remit of the organisation
To be eligible for the Award, projects must meet all of the
essential entry criteria. Entries are scored out of five against
each of the essential entry criteria and out of three against each
of the other desirable criteria. The maximum possible score is thus
thirty points.
Where possible, entrants should provide numerical records of BAP
species seen on site and, if available, comparative data showing
how numbers of BAP species have increased since the start of the
project. This information will be considered along with other
factors such as the size of the project and location.
The Prize
The prize consists of the Mance Memorial Trophy (a
specially-commissioned bronze trophy of a snipe), publicity for the
winning scheme, a framed certificate and a cheque for £1,500, which
should be used to fund the delivery of further UK Biodiversity
Action Plan (BAP) targets, publicity of the project and/or related
education. The Award will be announced and presented
at the CIWEM Annual Dinner in 2012.
How to Enter
Please fill out the entry form ( available from the panel on the
right ) and send it along with a succinct summary report, up
to ten single sides of A4 in length including
illustrations. We would prefer this to be in electronic format
however if printing please use double sides
(5 pages). Sections should be clearly marked and
photographs and diagrams used to illustrate the entry. You may like
to outline the following:
a) Background to the project
b) Project funding and management
c) How the project benefits wildlife
d) Community involvement, education and public access
e) Sustainability and other benefits that the project delivers
(e.g. flood alleviation, eco-tourism etc)
f) Future plans and how winning the Award would benefit the
project
Any history of legal infringements or insurance claims against
the entrant(s) must be stated in the entry.
If the file size is under 4 MB please email your report and
completed entry form to awards@ciwem.org
If the file size exceeds 4MB please send four individual copies
on CDs or hard copies to Rosanna Geary, Policy Department, CIWEM,
15 John Street, London, WC1N 2EB.
Closing date for entries is the 20th January
2012.
Judges
The judging panel will consist of five judges (to make sure a
conclusion is reached) including the CIWEM Director of Policy,
one of the sponsors and a further 3 from our pool of technical
experts depending on the entries (these will come from CIWEM's
panels and networks). As of 2010 Judges will be revealed (if they
are happy to be revealed) after the judging is complete. If no
entries meet the essential criteria no Award will be given.
If a project has any history of legal infringements stated in
their application judges will request further information from the
entrants. Judges will be able to deduct up to 30 points at
their discretion depending on the infringement.
Judges appointed by CIWEM will choose the winners. The judges'
decision on all matters relating to the competition is final.
Previous Winners/Projects
2011 winner
The CIWEM Living Wetlands Award winner for 2011 was
Beam Parklands, a new 53 hectare multifunctional wetland park
in east London. The Parklands are a critical element of the East
London Green Grid which connects the River Beam wildlife corridor
to surrounding green spaces and the River Thames. The site is
located amidst the industrial and residential legacy of the Ford
works, in one of the most deprived parts of the country.
The project is delivering over 12 hectares of new UK Priority
BAP Habitat including reedbeds, ponds, wet woodland, lowland fen,
traditional orchards and acid grassland; additional flood storage;
new network of paths and a footbridge inspired by the natural
environment to improve access and link fragmented communities; and
secured management and maintenance of the site in perpetuity. The
scheme is being delivered in partnership between The Land Trust,
Environment Agency, London Borough of Barking & Dagenham and
London Borough of Havering.
Effective and ongoing consultation has been an essential part of
maximising the benefits of the scheme to the local residents,
encouraging ownership of the park. This involvement has led to
focusing the design on allowing people to interact with the wetland
environment and species within it. Natural playgrounds have been
created using spoil excavated from the floodplain and natural logs,
whilst trees have been planted at varying angles to encourage
climbing. Ponds have been designed, including secluded water-bodies
for maximum habitat value and others with shallow gravelly beaches.
The main construction phase of the project has been completed and
planting of thousands of trees, shrubs and reeds is about to
commence. The partnership is working with community groups and
schools to plant trees close to homes and schools and two new
community orchards are being established. A key objective has been
the creation of diverse habitats that support the wealth of species
known to be at the site, including water voles, great crested newts
and wetland birds.
2010
The winner of CIWEM's prestigious Living Wetlands Award 2010 was
'The Itchen Navigation Heritage Trail Project', managed by the Isle
of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT). The project involved repairing and
enhancing the Navigation-part of a chalk river system that
stretches for ten miles from Winchester to Southampton.
2009
The 2009 Winner was the STREAM Project by Natural England
with partners Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency,
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and Wessex Water. The
project is a £1 million four-year conservation project centred on
the River Avon and the Avon Valley in Wiltshire and Hampshire.
STREAM will undertake strategic river restoration activities and
link management of the river and valley to benefit the river
habitat including water crowfoot and populations of Atlantic
salmon, brook and sea lamprey, bullhead, Desmoulin's whorl snail,
gadwall and Bewick's swan. For more information on this project
please visit www.streamlife.org.uk or
download the PDF file from the panel on the right.
2008
The 2008 winner was the The Moray Council with
their entry 'The Wards Wetlands Wildlife Site' an urban wetland
site situated in the city of Elgin in Morayshire.
2007
The winner of the 2007 Living Wetlands Award was
Sutcliffe Park - Quaggy River Flood Risk Management Scheme
submitted by the Environment Agency. More...
2006
The 2006 winner was The Little Ouse Headwaters Project a community
based charity with the aim of restoring wildlife habitat along the
headwater of the Little Ouse. More...
The 2006 winner of the Small Living Wetlands Award is Yorkshire
Water for their entry Scrayingham Ecological Wastewater Treatment
System. More...
2005
The winner in 2005 was Essex Wildlife Trust's Abbotts Hall Farm
coastal realignment scheme on the Blackwater Estuary. More...
2004
The 2004 Award was won by Aston Hall Farm, a working farm
at Stone in Staffordshire, with a scheme that transformed a
300-acre site into a floodplain grazing marsh. The project was
submitted by a partnership of organisations led by Severn Trent
Water.
Further Information
Images and project material may be used by CIWEM in award
promotion and publications. Permission will be sought from entrants
before material is used.
