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17th November 2009
Sue Dent receiving the award for the Snaky Lane Community Wildlife group
from Nigel Barker, Head of Regional Partnerships, English Heritage representing the awards judging panel (centre) and guest speaker Wayne Hemingway MBE.
Snaky Lane wins design award
The Snaky Lane Community Wildlife Group has received an award in the recent Guildford Design Awards 2009. Their project was one of two commended in the Design Award’s Environmental Enhancement category. The project included fencing and public consultation so that Highland Cattle could be brought on to graze the site to improve it for wild flowers and insects.
“To win this design award is fantastic because we really didn’t think we would get anything, particularly as our environmental enhancement was quite different from all the other entries in this category,” commented Sue Dent from the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership who received the award on behalf of the group.
She continued: “Cattle grazing is a traditional method of managing grassland and we thought it would be ideal for Snaky Lane, because the meadow area had been left untouched for years. Two Highland cattle came on to the site last winter and they did a fantastic job making real improvements to the meadow. The two cattle also became a focal point for local residents. I’m sure the community involvement in the scheme helped us win the award.”
The Guildford Design Awards co-ordinated by Guildford Borough council since 1987, aim to raise design standards and environmental awareness in the borough. All of the award winners and commended entries received a framed certificate from designer Wayne Hemingway MBE, co-founder of the Red or Dead fashion label, at a special ceremony held in The Guildhall in Guildford last month (October).
The seven-acre Snaky Lane wildlife area is located in the very north-west corner of Guildford Borough, and is managed by the Snaky Lane Community Wildlife Group for people and wildlife. With the help of the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership, the group meet on the first Sunday of each month to carrying out conservation and management work with the next task scheduled for Sunday 6th December. Anyone interested in joining group or finding out more about the site can visit the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership website www.blackwater-valley.org.uk or can phone 01252 331353.
All the winners with the Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Pauline Searle.
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For further information contact:
Christine Reeves, Visitor Promotions Officer on 01252 331353.
Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership, Ash Lock Cottage, Government Road, Aldershot GU11 2PS.
NOTES
- Wayne Hemingway MBE is best known for his design work - from housing to radios - and as a commentator and broadcaster on design matters. He founded the Red or Dead fashion label with his wife Geraldine.
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