Froglife’s Scottish Green Pathways Project (Scottish GP), working across Clackmannashire, Dundee, Falkiirk, Fife, Glasgow and Renfrewshire has been shortlisted in the Youth and Education category at RSPB Scotland’s prestigious Nature of Scotland Awards.
The Scottish GP project works with vulnerable and disadvantaged young people aged 8-18 (or up to age 25 for those with additional support needs) to improve their local greenspaces for wildlife through practical and educational outdoor learning sessions.
We work with groups or individuals during a range of one-off or longer term projects to improve young peoples confidence, social skills and positive behaviour as well as their knowledge and appreciation of wildlife, especially amphibians and reptiles, and their transferable skills through practical and educational projects such as pond creation and building bog gardens and hibernaculum.
“We are honoured to have been shortlisted in the the Youth and Education category at the RSPB’s Nature of Scotland Awards this year. We are proud of every young person we have worked with since the project began in 2017 and of all the improvements to local greenspaces we’ve been able to help them make dring that time. It’s amazing to be able to showcase this through the Awards.” Said Louise Smith, Development Officer for the Scottish GP project.
Scottish GP was announced as a finalist in the Youth and Education category at a ceremony at the Scottish Parliament, the first in-person celebration for the Nature of Scotland Awards since 2019.
On 17 November, the finalists will gather at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre to enjoy a night of celebration, where the winners of all 10 categories will be announced.
The awards ceremony, now in its 11th year and co-sponsored by NatureScot, will be hosted by wildlife presenter Iolo Williams and radio and tv presenter Arlene Stuart. They will recognise the individuals and organisations making a difference in their local communities, businesses and schools to support Scotland’s wildlife and special places.
Following the success of the public vote for Nature Champion of the Decade in 2021, Nature-lovers are being invited to vote for this year’s Citizen Science Award, which will honour those who engage with volunteers to further our understanding of the natural world.
Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland said: “Chairing the judging panel for the Nature of Scotland Awards is easily one of the best jobs I get to do as part of my role as Director of RSPB Scotland.
“I am so inspired by the number of new, exciting projects we hear about each year, working hard to conserve Scotland’s important habitats and wildlife. The judging process seems to get harder and harder every year! My fellow judges and I would like to thank everyone who took the time to apply and we look forward to meeting and celebrating with everyone from the conservation community at the ceremony in November.”
Mike Cantlay, Chair of Awards co-sponsor NatureScot, said: “We are delighted to be the co-sponsor of the Nature of Scotland Awards with RSPB Scotland. We are joined in our national endeavour to tackle the biodiversity crisis in Scotland so that we can secure nature’s benefits and deliver on net zero. This year’s shortlisted Nature for Scotland nominees are the people, businesses, organisations and communities who work tirelessly to take positive action for nature and we wish them every success for November’s final.”
Anyone with an interest in Nature is welcome to attend the Awards, tickets are available at https://rspb.org.uk/natureofscotlandawardsceremony