Simon Cutter, tenant of Courtfield Estate, near Ross-on-Wye, picked up a trophy for his work managing grasslands for wildlife at the very first Natural England Awards Ceremony held on Wednesday, March 28th at the Wyre Forest Discovery Centre.

And Martin Rowberry, chairman of Coppett Hill Trust, at Goodrich, was awarded a trophy on behalf of the Trust, for their work at Coppett Hill Common.

The local community trust (and Friends of the Hill) focus their enthusiastic efforts on the cutting of bracken areas for small pearl bordered fritillary butterflies. They have re-invested money to purchase an alpine tractor to help with site management.

The trust works collaboratively with the local wildlife trust, Butterfly Conservation and independent consultant ecologists to maximise the mosaic habitat across Coppett Hill.

Natural England’s chairman Andrew Sells presented awards to 13 winners from across the West Midlands area, including the two from Herefordshire, to recognise outstanding efforts to enhance habitats for wildlife.

Mr Cutter won the award for his innovative livestock management techniques in the Symonds Yat area. Simon’s extensive grazing techniques have been key to the success of the species diversity achieved there. Simon was one of the first members of the Pasture-Fed Livestock Association to become an Approved Supplier, sharing his ideas and techniques with others. His work has resulted in a very large area of fantastic high quality grassland and parkland which will be providing an invaluable habitat for invertebrates, birds and mammals, as well as protecting a key designated river in an area with a landscape highly visible to the public.

Emma Johnson, Area Manager for the West Midlands team, said “There are a wide range of individuals working away in the background to make a difference for their local wildlife, and their efforts are often unnoticed and unrewarded. We wanted to say thank you for all that hard work which makes such a difference to struggling species.”

The winners included farmers, landowners, local council rangers, and small volunteer groups.

The awards have been launched this year to acknowledge the amazing amount of work done by individuals to protect and enhance the wildlife on their own doorstep. People are the key to reversing the decline in many of our native species and habitats, and Natural England wanted to reward the unsung local heroes who have been putting their own time and effort into the fight to improve England’s fantastic landscape, in order for animal and plant life to thrive.