Bittern Award

Name: Arnside & Silverdale
Price range: $

The Bittern Award

The Bittern Award recognises groups, organisations or individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to Arnside & Silverdale National Landscape.

The Bittern Award 2025

The winner of the 2025 Bittern Award is Roger Cartwright.

We're honoured to present this award to Roger in recognition of his outstanding contribution and dedication for over 50 years to Arnside & Silverdale National Landscape.

In particular we would like to recognise:

his contribution to the conservation of limestone pavements at Gait Barrows and securing Limestone Pavement Orders for the area,
his role in the establishment and long-term support of the Landscape Trust,
his professional work supporting positive woodland management across the area,
the conservation management of Hale Moss Woodland and Ponds.

There were a high number of nominations again this year, and we would also like to recognise the achievements of the following nominees, all of whom will receive Certificates of Recognition:

Liz Anslow, recognising many years of voluntary dedication to the Landscape Trust as Membership Secretary.
Ray Anslow, recognising many years of voluntary dedication to the Landscape Trust as Treasurer, and to the Bittern Countryside Community Interest Company as Finance Director.
Sue Brindle, recognising dedication to biodiversity monitoring and recording in the area and contribution to the conservation of management of Myers Allotment Butterfly Conservation reserve.
Brian Hancock, recognising many years dedication to monitoring and recording butterflies and moths in the area and involvement in lepidoptera conservation projects.
Sam Stalker, recognising his contribution to partnership working, conservation of National Trust sites, and improving access in the National Landscape in his role as National Trust Lead Ranger.
Zhinlap Tamang, recognising his significant voluntary contribution to biodiversity recording at Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve and the Brown Hairstreak project.

The Bittern Youth Award 2025

The Bittern Youth Award recognises the contributions of young people who go above and beyond in their contribution to conserving and enhancing the National Landscape.

We are delighted to announce that the winner of the 2025 Bittern Youth Award is Arnside School Eco Club.

This award recognises their outstanding contribution to Arnside & Silverdale National Landscape through work to improve sustainability of Arnside School grounds and raise awareness of environmental issues.

We would also like to recognise the achievements of the following young people, who will receive Certificates of Recognition:

El Morrow - recognising outstanding commitment to volunteering in the National Landscape in 2025
Chloe Fox - recognising outstanding commitment to volunteering in the National Landscape in 2025
Sebastian Thompson Silva - recognising outstanding commitment to volunteering in the National Landscape in 2025

Bittern Award - Past Recipients

Past recipients of the Bittern Award include:

2024 Lynne Farrell - for her outstanding contribution to Arnside & Silverdale National Landscape through monitoring and survey work of plants and invertebrates. In particular this has included organising volunteer surveys for the Species Recovery Plan, supporting others to develop their botanical skills, and spearheading conservation of the Brown Hairstreak butterfly.
2023 Steve Porter – for inspiring the community of Arnside to take action for biodiversity, in particular his work to enhance verges and greenspaces in the village involving Arnside Primary School and many others.
2022 Cllr Brian Meakin – for his longstanding commitment as Arnside & Silverdale AONB Executive Committee Chair.
2021 The Back On Our Map Project (BOOM) – for their work on species reintroductions within the AONB
2020 Simon Whorrall and the Arnside Volunteer Group – for their work supporting the community during the pandemic
2019 Feleena Taylor – for all her work setting up the Arnside & Silverdale AONB ‘Walks for All’ programme
2018 Tony Riden – for his enormous contribution to the National Landscape during his time as the AONB Countryside Officer
2017 Bill Grayson – for 25 years working as a conservation grazing farmer in Arnside & Silverdale AONB
2016 Rob Petley-Jones – for his outstanding work at Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve to ensure that this special limestone landscape has been managed in a way that conserves its iconic habitats and species.
2015 Peter Standing – for his work managing the Arnside/Silverdale Landscape Trust’s annual event programme since 2010; attracting, entertaining and informing many local people and visitors to the area.
2014 Barry Ayre – for his outstanding contribution over many years including his work compiling an historical archive and also as editor of Keer to Kent
2013 David Mower – for his work as Warden at RSPB Leighton Moss and outstanding commitment to nature conservation in the AONB
2012 Ann Kitchen – for her work as Chair of the Bittern Community Interest Company, in particular for setting up the AONB community solar photovoltaics initiative; and also her longstanding contribution to biodiversity recording as part of the Arnside Natural History Society
2011 Peter Goulder and Sheila Porter – for their work to restore an important heritage orchard within the National Landscape and for hosting the ever popular AONB Apple Days
2010 Martin Wain and Butterfly Conservation – for their work to conserve High Brown Fritillary butterflies in the AONB
2009 Arthur Boswell – for his many years service as an AONB volunteer
2008 Colin Peacock – for his longstanding commitment as AONB Executive Committee Chairman and involvement in the governance of the National Landscape since its designation

Past recipients of the Bittern Youth Award include:

2024 Warton Eco Gang - for their outstanding contribution to Arnside & Silverdale National Landscape through tackling environmental issues and taking inspirational positive action in the Warton community.