News and events
UK Award Winners 2016
The winners of the 2016 UK Awards for Biological Recording and Information Sharing were announced at the National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh during an evening ceremony on Thursday 17th November 2016.
These awards have been developed by the National Biodiversity Network, the National Forum for Biological Recording and the Biological Records Centre. They run annually and their intention is to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions made by adults, young people and groups to biological recording, which is helping to improve our understanding of the UK’s wildlife.
2016 Awards
Following its success in 2015, on Thursday 17th November 2016, we will again be holding an evening reception for the UK Awards for Biological Recording and Information Sharing. This will be held at the National Museums Scotland between 6 and 7.15 PM. Drinks and nibbles will be served during the event and there are a number of restaurants available locally for dining afterwards.
We are delighted that Swarovski Optik UK will once again be sponsoring these awards. We are also pleased to announce that Paramo will be involved with sponsorship this year too.
Download the Awards Programme 2016
In 2016 there are five award categories which receive nominations:
- the Gilbert White Youth Award for terrestrial and freshwater wildlife
- the Gilbert White Adult Award for terrestrial and freshwater wildlife
- the David Robertson Youth Award for marine and coastal wildlife
- the David Robertson Adult Award for marine and coastal wildlife
- the Lynne Farrell Group Award
There is also the John Sawyer NBN Open Data Award which is presented annually, by the NBN Trust, to a member of the NBN who is making the greatest contribution to open biodiversity data in the UK.
The winners in 2016
These are as follows:
Gilbert White youth award
George Garnett
Information on George Garnett
Download photos of George receiving his award
George featured in the January 2017 issue of BBC Wildlife magazine in the My Agenda column. Read George’s interview for My Agenda below.
Gilbert White adult award
Richard Comont
Information on Richard Comont
Download photos of Richard receiving his award
Gilbert White – Highly commended
The Awards’ Committee wanted to recognise a further individual in the Gilbert White category for the work they are carrying out.
Mark Pritchard
Information on Mark Pritchard
Download photos of Julia Simons from Lancashire Wildlife Trust accepting the award on Mark’s behalf
David Robertson youth award
Jordan Havell
Information on Jordan Havell
Download photos of Jordan receiving his award
David Robertson adult award
Chris Wood
Information on Chris Wood
Download photos of Chris receiving his award
Lynne Farrell Award
Essex Wildlife Trusts River Wardens
Information on The River Wardens
Download photos of EWT River Wardens, Mary Taylor and Laura Millar, receiving the award
The River wardens featured in the February 2017 issue of BBC Wildlife magazine in the My Agenda column. Read Mary Tayler’s interview for My Agenda below.
John Sawyer NBN Open Data award
Caledonian Conservation Limited
Information on Caledonian Conservation Limited.
All the winners
Download photos of all the winners together
Response to the Awards
Professor Michael Hassell, Chairman of the National Biodiversity Network said:
“The painstaking work that individual and groups of biological recorders undertake over many years is all too often not publicly recognised. We wanted to correct that, and celebrate the outstanding contributions that British biological recorders have made to improving our understanding of wildlife in the UK.”
Peter Antoniou, Country Manager, UK & Rep of Ireland of Swarovski Optik UK said:
“Swarovski Optik UK is very proud to be sponsoring these awards. Our brand embodies superior precision and uncompromising quality, which are characteristics that the best biological recorders share. Our products help make observing nature a joy, allowing people to see the unseen.”
Thank you to our sponsors
The Awards’ ceremony was kindly sponsored by Swarovski Optik UK.
The Gilbert White Terrestrial Awards were sponsored by Swarovski Optik UK.
The David Robertston marine and coastal awards were sponsored by Paramo Directional Clothing.
The Group Award was sponsored by The Field Studies Council
