The Conservation Volunteers' staff and volunteers from the Newton Abbot office have received regional recognition for their conservation work after winning in the ‘Landscape’ category of the Western Morning News Countryside Awards 2014. Following a gala dinner at the St. Mellion International Resort in Cornwall, Dan Kent accepted the award on behalf of TCV Newton Abbot from Bill Martin, editor of the western Morning News.
Mr Martin went on to say, “The Conservation Volunteers is a great example of what can be achieved in the rural Westcountry. This sets the bar high and this award is well-deserved recognition of high standards and consistent achievement.”
TCV were represented at the awards ceremony by Dan Kent (South Devon Training Officer), Sacha Hart (South West Training Contracts Co-ordinator), Chris Newton (TCV Newton Abbot VO) and Danni Bailey (TCV Midweek volunteer).
Dan commented, “This is a fantastic achievement for all of us at TCV in Newton Abbot and it is brilliant that the volunteers and staff have received this award for the hard work they have put in on Exmoor, in all weathers, working to improve the environment and landscape of the area”. Chris added, “ It was a team effort, I’m really pleased for all of us and TCV as a whole”.
TCV won for their work on the Exmoor Mires Project, which is funded by South West Water. TCV volunteers braved driving rain, cold and wind throughout the early part of 2014 to erect dams at strategic points on Exmoor, encouraging the flooding and re-wetting of key areas. This results in greater wildlife diversity, the locking up of CO2 and the slowdown of water flow, preventing silting up and flooding downstream.
The Conservation Volunteers were also nominated in the ‘Conservation’ category. TCV were the only organisation to be nominated in two categories in a strong field of competitors comprising of local authorities, conservation charities and private landowners.