A GREEN group is celebrating after landing a top nature preservation prize.
The party mood broke out among Burton Conservation Volunteers (BCV) after they scooped the western region’s ‘community group of the year’ accolade in BTCV’s (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) 2010 Green Heroes Awards.
BCV chairman Lawrence Oates said: “It’s a real credit to the group and a nice reward for all the hard work they’ve done over the years.
“It’s good for the volunteers to win these things and show they are appreciated. It’s not just me saying they are good – it’s a national body saying it.”
The chairman nominated his group, which is 17 years old and has up to 40 members aged from 16 to almost 80, because he thought they ‘deserved it’.
Mr Oates filled out a form and spoke to the judges before directing them to the BCV’s website.
He also cited Lichfield District Council and Yoxall Lodge as referees.
Victory, when it came, was particularly sweet as it was BCV’s first bid for glory in a year which saw a record number of applications from their region.
In a letter to the regional winners, BTCV chief executive Tom Flood said: “The achievements of the individuals and groups concerned are a real inspiration.
“Thank you for your time and commitment to BCTV and many congratulations on your award.” Winning earned BCV a certificate, four T-shirts and £30 for tools.
It has also given the group the chance to dig for more glory by battling it out with their counterparts from seven other regions for their category’s national crown.
The victors will be determined by an online public vote, via the BCTV’s website at www.btcv.org, and invited to a national award ceremony on Friday, November 26, in London. Lines opened last week and close next Tuesday, October 5.
Mr Oates said: “We need lots and lots of people to vote for us. The more people who vote, the more chance we’ve got.
“Victory would be a big boost for the volunteers and Burton in general. It would put the town on the map.”
