Selected from over 80 hopeful applicants, Groundwork Merseyside will now compete against five other organisations from across the country, for the chance to be named winner of the 'Outdoor Recreation' category at the Biffaward Awards 2011, and receive prize money totalling £2,000.
The group were awarded £29,000 in funding from Biffaward, which they used to transform an underused piece of land that carried historical significance dating back to medieval times. The land, which was locally known as 'the swamp', is the only remaining arm of the large square moat that surrounded Hallwood Manor House, and over the years had become overgrown and neglected.
In a brilliant partnership with the community, Four Estates, Riverside Housing and Halton Borough Council, Groundwork Merseyside cleared the site, made significant improvements to paths and walkways, restored the only access bridge over the moat, and developed bespoke art elements such as interpretation boards and Runcorn's very own moat serpent 'Tripalocorn'. The project has lead to increased interest from the community in learning more about the history of the site, building their pride in the heritage of the area.
Shelagh Kearney from Four Estates believes: 'The Moat project is a perfect example of what can be achieved when a community inspired initiative is coupled with excellent partnership working between agencies and stakeholders. Overall, the project has provided not only a place where local people can visit now, but it has also left a legacy for the future as the area naturally re-establishes its biodiversity.'
Biffaward is managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT), which utilises landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services. Since 1997, Biffaward has over £100 million in funding to hundreds environmental and community projects across the UK.
The Biffaward Awards 2011, will be held on 3 November at London Transport Museum, Covent Garden, where all the finalists will be invited to attend a day of celebrating the enthusiasm and commitment of those that dedicate their lives to making a real difference to their community and the environment. Competition has been fierce from the beginning, with more than 200 projects eligible to enter the awards under five different categories: Natural Environment; Outdoor Recreation; Community Buildings, Cultural facilities and Small Grants.
Category Winners at the Awards will receive a trophy and prize money totalling £2,000, which can be used to develop their project or fund other initiatives. Each winner then has the chance of becoming the Overall Winner for 2011, receiving a prize of a further £1,000.
Gillian French, Programme Manager for Biffaward, commented:
'The Biffaward Awards provide us with a unique opportunity to reward and recognise the amazing people that are involved in the projects we have funded. Many of the projects we fund have a huge impact on the communities and environment around them, so to be shortlisted for the awards is a tremendous achievement in itself. Our judges have a very difficult task ahead in choosing the winners.'