Congratulations to all our finalists! The shortlist for the 2024 awards represents a cross-section of businesses, charities, the public sector and individuals working towards conserving the country’s unique wildlife and natural environment.
Thank you to everyone who entered the awards this year and congratulations to our shortlist and winners!
Sponsored by NatureScot
During 2024, the Grounds Team at the University of Glasgow have had a renewed focus on developing their natural spaces to benefit biodiversity in the heart of the city. From using nectar-rich bulbs to transform lawned areas into pollinator-friendly sites, to carefully maintaining mature tree canopies, their work aims to support green corridors and wider biodiversity efforts.
Highly Commended: Highland Boundary Wild Distillery
Highland Boundary is a regenerative business that restores biodiversity and creates innovative drinks from wild plants, reconnecting people with the wild flavours of Scotland. Through academic collaborations, public presentations, cocktail masterclasses, foraging walks and a wild cocktail bar, Highland Boundary is working to restore the lost culture of our wild flora.
Sponsored by Scottish Water
Restoration Forth is a major marine restoration project working with communities to restore seagrass habitats and European Flat Oyster populations in the Firth of Forth. By spring 2025, the partnership of 10 organisations will have planted four hectares of seagrass and reintroduced 30,000 oysters to the Firth of Forth.
Highly Commended: Reducing Whale and Basking Shark Entanglements
Entanglement in the ropes associated with pot (creel) fisheries in Scottish coastal waters is a serious problem for whales and Basking Sharks, and can lead to injury and death. This ambitious project collaborated with fishers to trial simple fishing gear modifications to reduce marine life entanglement.
Sponsored by GreenPower
Across West Fife, this ambitious project seeks out and delivers nature conservation and restoration initiatives; offers inclusive volunteer and engagement opportunities for communities to take action for nature; and works to make village life more sustainable for the long term, through positive collaboration.
This ambitious and expanding group of 25 farmers are going above and beyond to save wading birds on their livestock farms in southern Scotland. Through regular meetings and by working closely with partners, they are changing their farming systems and developing new solutions that work for both the threatened birds and the farm business.
Highly Commended: North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme (NILPs) - Habitat Restoration Project
The NILPs project worked with farmers in the North Isles of Orkney to restore 15 sites and 200ha of land for wading birds. The main premise was to reintroduce grazing to unmanaged sites and carry out large-scale wetland enhancement works.
The vision of An Darach Forest Therapy is to inspire people to improve the health and wellbeing of themselves, of others and of the planet, using nature and nature-connection activities to achieve this. The project is especially focused on supporting people who find it difficult to access nature.
Highly Commended: The Woodland Refuge
The project combines nature connection practices with outdoor teaching for anyone with English as a second language. This helps to connect new Scots, asylum seekers and refugees with their local woodlands. The aim is to create a safe space for learning, integration and community building while tapping into the healing potential of nature.
Sponsored by James Hutton Institute
The Common Ground Forum is a network of individuals from across Scotland’s upland deer management sector. They are working together, supported by civic mediators, in a collaborative approach to deer management, based on mutual respect and consensus-building, towards a vision of a greener, healthier, and economically vibrant future.
Sponsored by ScottishPower Renewables
The partnership is pioneering innovative and deeply collaborative approaches to the re-evaluation and restoration of blanket bog peatlands across Caithness and Sutherland. It does this by connecting and optimising measures to mitigate climate change, grow natural capital, boost sustainability, and address the biodiversity crisis, while delivering social and economic benefits for local communities.
Highly Commended: Clyde Climate Forest
The Clyde Climate Forest will see 18 million trees planted by 2032 as a response to the climate and biodiversity crisis. The initiative aims to increase tree canopy cover in urban areas vulnerable to climate impacts and create new woodlands to lock up carbon and connect habitats for wildlife.
Sponsored by VisitScotland
The first of its kind in the world, the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre is a unique place rich in natural and cultural heritage. Bringing people and nature together through immersive experiences for all ages and abilities, the centre is a gateway to Dundreggan’s rewilded landscape brimming with wildlife and Gaelic culture.
Highly Commended: Bamff Ecotourism
Bamff Ecotourism comprises seven unique holiday cottages and off-grid cabins within a pioneering rewilding estate, alongside Beavers and free-roaming cattle, pigs, and ponies. Inspiring and informative guided walks in the wildland, and Beaver watching experiences are offered throughout the year for both residential guests and visitors.
Sponsored by The Ardmore
Alastair has been a driving force in fisheries science, education, and management for 40 years. He delivered the blueprint for Scotland’s fisheries trust network, established the Scottish Fisheries Coordination Centre, and has worked tirelessly to resolve hydro power generation impacts on Salmon, Common Scoters and wider biodiversity.
Highly Commended: Dave Sexton - The Man with the Sunlit Eye
Dave Sexton’s decades-long commitment to White-tailed Eagles places him on the frontline of work with this remarkable species. Instrumental in creating high quality multi-award-winning visitor experiences; and building supportive networks and partnerships, Dave has combined humanity and humour with the highest possible integrity.
Sponsored by SSEN Transmission
The Junior Ranger Project is an exciting, free programme of outdoor learning and volunteering for young people aged 11–18 years who are growing up in communities in and around the Cairngorms.
Highly Commended: Young Sea Changers Scotland (YSCS)
YSCS is a transformative initiative to equip young people, aged 16-25, with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to speak up on marine policy issues affecting them, their communities, and their environment. Through training, resources, and advocacy opportunities, young people are empowered to speak up with confidence on the marine issues they care about.
