Last Thursday saw the celebration of the efforts made by groups, schools and businesses towards making the Sid Valley more sustainable – with certificates handed out at Kennaway House by a panel of judges:
Congratulations! Champion Awards handed out! – Sustainable Sidmouth Champion Awards
And that included the efforts made by individuals.
The nominees for the citizen category for the Sustainable Sidmouth Champions Awards were:
Tess Bison: “Turning a conventional and under-used allotment into a ecologically sound productive space without use of pesticides and using the no-dig method to retain soil structure.”
Stefan Drew: “Much personal involvement in raising awareness of the need to change our ways in order to save our environment; very effective outreach through blog and community-engaging activities.”
Thomas Franklin: “Sustainability projects with the Sidmouth Scouts.”
Teresa Loynd: “Her work helping the local community – in particular ‘make-do-and-mend’ activities.”
Heather Spratt: “Tending the grounds at the Norman Lockyer Observatory.”
The judges panel decided the Citizen’ Award should go to Stefan Drew, with the runner-up’s award going to Tess Bisson.
And the VGS chair felt a special ‘Chair’s Award’ should go to Heather Spratt for her work.
Congratulations to all – including to Thomas Franklin and Teresa Loynd!
Here’s a moment from Thursday’s certificate ceremony:
Heather Spratt receives the special Citizen’s Sustainable Sidmouth Champions Award from Ian Gregory, chair of the Vision Group for Sidmouth. Photography by Kyle Baker
“Heather Spratt has been tending the grounds at the Norman Lockyer Observatory every day, seven days a week, from 9.30 to 4pm for 17 years. That could amount to 30,000 hours of volunteering! And she intends to carry on for another three years. Heather is a young at heart, sprightly 77 year-old, and her dedication to her voluntary cause is astonishing.”
Heather Spratt – the unsung hero of the heathland | Sidmouth Herald