Park Protector Awards 2022

Park Protector Awards 2022

The winners and runners up from the 2022 Park Protector Awards ceremony in parliament

The awards recognise and reward the efforts that go into protecting and improving National Parks in England and Wales. The winners received their awards at a ceremony in the Houses of Parliament on Monday 11 July 2022, attended by MPs and Lords, National Park Authority Chief Executives and leading civil servants.

Winners for 2022

The winner of the main Park Protector Award 2022, sponsored by WWF-UK and presented by Dr Anjana Khatwa, is:

Fix the Fells – Nominated multiple times, the Fix The Fells team play an integral role in caring for one of the UK’s most-visited National Park’s well-used paths. A team of around 175 people from all walks of life, including 135 volunteers, brave all types of weather to put in thousands of hours over 2021 to monitor, maintain and repair 400 miles of path in the UNESCO World Heritage site.

The main Park Protector Award runners-up 2022 are:

Anita Kerwin-Nye – Anita is Executive Director of YHA and was the driving force behind Generation Green, which has created opportunities for over 100,00 children and young people – from work experience and apprenticeships to day visits and residentials and built new connections with schools.

EcoDewi – EcoDewi’s work is focused on developing local solutions for global problems – tackling the climate emergency – through a broad range of activities. This includes pioneering Great Big Green Week, engaging 1,000 people to take action; running a programme of beach cleans; leading a ‘plastic-free peninsula’ campaign; launching a repair café; supporting residents to create mini meadows and creation of a new community garden at St Davids Cathedral.

Dr Anjana Khatwa with the Fix the Fells team

Dr Anjana Khatwa with the Fix the Fells team

winners of the main Park Protector Award 2022

Fix the Fells

The winner of the New Perspectives Award 2022, sponsored by Natural England and presented by its Chief Executive Marian Spain, is:

AKA Health, Wealth & Oneness – An incredible initiative helping to drive community cohesion, physical and mental wellbeing and open up access to the outdoors. Working across communities in Nottingham, three friends make up AKA – Anton, Kevin and Antwon – working tirelessly to help more people connect with the Peak District National Park.

Runners-up for the New Perspectives Award 2022 are:

Benji Grundy – Benji started working with Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust as part of the Green Guardians project, which supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds access the countryside. Since then, he has steadfastly attended Young Rangers, led the Youth Environment Forum and is now doing an apprenticeship with the rangers at Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

Cameron’s Cottage – Cameron’s Cottage is a new RSPB Lodge based in a nature reserve in the New Forest. Built in memory of Cameron Bespolka – a sixteen-year-old naturalist – Cameron’s Cottage provides a residential base from which groups of teenagers and young adults, charities and educational institutions can take part in fun and/or educational pursuits in nature – from wildlife surveys to nature-based team building activities.

Northumberland National Park Authority’s Engagement Team – Northumberland National Park Authority’s Engagement Team designed a programme to enable the ‘hardest hit’ groups during the pandemic to recover in nature in 2021. They worked with local organisations such as Newcastle West End Refugee Service and Headway Arts, to co-create visits and remove barriers to access, including transport issues. Activities included nature and wildlife walks, art workshops and outdoor activities.

AKA Health, Wealth & Oneness

AKA Health, Wealth & Oneness

winner of the Changemaker of the Year Award 2022

AKA Health, Wealth & Oneness

The winner of the Volunteer of the Year Award 2022, sponsored by Original Cottages, chosen by a public vote last month and presented by Lord Benyon is:

Chris Maloney – Also known as ‘Keeper of the Peak’, Chris has worked hard over the past decade to build up an online following among mountain bikers to connect people to caring for Peak District National Park as they enjoy leisure time there. Via his communications channels and work on the ground, he keeps people informed of trail conditions and sensitive areas to avoid, raises funds to improve trails, repairs paths and engages people with the issue of climate change.

Runners-up for the Volunteer of the Year Award 2022 are:

Tony Evans (Northumberland National Park) 

Bob Slater (North York Moors National Park) 

Rachel Thomas (Exmoor National Park) 

Jack Walmsley (Eryri National Park)

Lord Benyon and Chris Maloney

Lord Benyon and Chris Maloney

winner of the Changemaker of the Year Award 2022

Chris Maloney

Hear more about the winners and the 2022 award ceremony here.