CIWEM are pleased to announce that CIWEM Living Wetlands Award 2012 has been awarded to Brockholes Nature Reserve, in Lancashire. CIWEM’s Living Wetlands Award was co-founded in 2002 /3 with RSPB and recognizes multi-functional projects that demonstrate the sustainable use of wetland habitats.    Brockholes is a 106-hectare site made up of former gravel workings located in Central Lancashire within reach of the city of Preston. It offers a major opportunity to sustain and further develop a high value biodiversity asset which is accessible to large numbers of people, many of whom live close to the site in areas of high social depravation.

Since the site’s purchase in December 2006 by The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, the reserve has managed to proactively protect some key UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) habitats and species.

Brockholes nature reserve is very much at the leading edge of the widely accepted need to bring wildlife and people together in a way that meets long term targets in sustainability.

CIWEM’s Director of Policy, Justin Taberham said:

“The Brockholes project was particularly recognised for its high level of visitor attraction, excellent BREEAM visitor centre, and its high potential for increases in BAP species. All 5 judges were very impressed with the entry which was unanimously voted as the winner amongst some very high quality contenders”

CIWEM also commended the ‘Hambrook Marshes’ project entered by the Kent Enterprise Trust for its uniqueness in involving different social groups, particularly the unemployed and disadvantaged in society, and the ‘Severn Vale Living Landscape’ project entered by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust for its impressive linkages and long term vision.

The Living Wetlands Award will be presented at CIWEM’s prestigious Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony on 17th May 2012. The prize fund this year was donated in memory of Dr. Rick Leah, Aquatic Ecologist.