Conservation Awards
ENTRY DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 31 JULY 2012
The Conservation Awards recognise and encourage excellence in the management and conservation of wild trout habitat, celebrating the efforts, skills and ingenuity of projects carried out both by professionals and by grass roots voluntary organisations.
There are two categories, Professional and Amateur. Trophies and commemorative certificates will be presented to the winner and runner-up of each category
The awards are generously sponsored by Orvis, and the amateur category is given in memory of Michael Edwards, CEO of Orvis, who died in 2010.
The competition is open to all: companies, groups and individuals. Entries can be made for amateur or professional work – we want to read about small scale efforts to improve a stream at the end of the garden just as much as catchment-wide work funded by government agencies or Rivers Trusts.
There is an independent panel of judges representing the Wild Trout Trust and the River Restoration Centre. They will look for how a project or management programme has benefited the wild trout and its associated environment on river, lake, loch or lough.
In arriving at their decisions, the judges mark each project against the following categories:
- The impact on wild trout.
- Appropriateness of the scheme to the site
- Techniques and materials used
- Funding sources
- Monitoring
- Sustainability and ‘after care’ management.
- Value for money - and value to other wildlife, in addition to trout.
General guidance for applicants
Please read these notes carefully before completing the entry form. It is important that full relevant information is included to help the judging team draw up a list of projects to be visited.
There are no right or wrong answers in the application process. Projects are often initiated, completed and assessed in many different ways depending on the nature of the project, timescales and the resources involved and the judges will take this into account.
There is no minimum standard required. Small-scale one-off projects put together with solid objectives will carry just as much weight as large catchment-based, partnership projects stretching over several years. Both types of projects have won the competition over the life of the award scheme.
If you require further information or help please call the WTT office on 023 9257 0985 or email office@wildtrout.org
Awards timetable
July: All entries to be received by the Wild Trout Trust.
August: Judging team screen entries.
August: Screened applications are short-listed and applicants contacted to arrange judging visits during July and August. We contact any applicants not short-listed and provide feedback.
August: Judging visits take place.
September: Invitations to Award Ceremony sent out.
October: Award Ceremony in London.
Please note that the above dates are for guidance only and may be subject to change.
Format for entries
Applications may be submitted by email, using Word, HTML, RTF or PDF formats. A downloadable form is available here in PDF format. For a WORD version of the form, please contact the office on office@wildtrout.org.
Or you may choose to submit your entry in paper format, and where possible applications should be typed and submitted in an A4 document wallet with an index explaining any additional information / appendixes.
Maps and photos should be very clearly labeled with supporting text, where necessary, to fully explain to enable interpretation.
Please feel free to add in extra sheets if the information boxes provided are too small.
Place yourself in the position of the judging team who screen applications before short-listing projects to be visited. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Has enough detail been provided?
- Does the application follow a logical sequence?
- Have you included extra information such as reports, maps, photos, etc – and are they clearly explained?
- Does your entry do your project the justice it deserves?
If the answers are ‘yes’ to all of the above – send your entry in immediately!
These are general guidelines for entrants. Please try to convey your enthusiasm for your project. The judges are enthusiasts too, and thoroughly enjoy reading about and visiting projects.
The spirit of the competition is to highlight and celebrate the role you have played in wild trout conservation.
Award categories
The Michael Edwards award for indivduals or amateurs is for work undertaken by individuals on a limited budget, through time, dedication and commitment. It is acceptable for these projects to have had specialist advice from professional bodies / consultants.
The Partnership/Professional category is for projects involving one or more large associations, clubs, or professional bodies with good funding resources. This would include an Environment Agency, Rivers Trusts or large fishing syndicates.
You application should contain the following information:
Project site background
Please state why you chose this location for your project, e.g. Is it your Club’s or Association’s water, or is it part of a much wider project, is the fishery in a state of decline? This section is all about setting the scene before getting into the detail of the project later in the application.
Project objectives
What did you want to achieve from the project and what criteria did you want to use to assess success?
Project objectives often vary considerably, and may range from fisheries ecology issues through to socio-economic and even aesthetic aims. For example, did the project aim to boost wild fish spawning areas, or increase fish holding areas, or even increase the fly life present. Was the project aimed at reviving the fortunes of a fishing club or even the economy of a rural area?
Please include any relevant reports / fish surveys / catch returns / supporting documents, letters etc.
What did you do?
In this section you will need to explain briefly and clearly all of the stages you underwent during the life of the project. Describe how you initiated, planned, timed, and completed the project.
Was there a project committee? Did you plan it on your own?
What help did you have with labour, materials and funding?
How long did it take and how much did it cost?
What about bureaucracy?
What were the major elements of the project and why did you select them?
What techniques did you use? Tried and tested, or your own initiative and ideas?
What problems did you encounter along the way and how did you deal with them?
Did the project get any PR, were the local community involved in any way?
Have the objectives been achieved?
Describe how the project has affected the river, its wildlife and fishery.
Have all the criteria for success been met, or is it still too early to tell?
Where possible, provide evidence of success – this could be in terms of reports, surveys, photos, catch returns and press coverage, etc.
Has the project been a success in other ways, e.g. encouraging further work, or another project to start?
Lessons learnt. What would you do differently next time?
Would you do it all again?
Terms and conditions of entry
Applicants understand that they are entering a competition that is run by a charitable trust, with the financial support of one or a number of sponsors. All entries are welcome and encouraged.
The Wild Trout Trust reserves the right to use material from any entry or prize winner in its promotional literature, or on its website, or in other publicity as may be appropriate to the Trust’s aims.
Copyright in any and all material submitted by the applicant(s) will remain with the applicant(s), although by submitting an entry, the applicant agrees to the Trust using material as described in these terms.
Copyright in any material originated by the Trust, including this document and forms and literature obtained or downloaded from the Trust remains exclusively with the Trust.
Applicants entering the competition agree to these terms and to the Trust and the Sponsor including references to or material from, entries in promotional material.
Prizewinners and those receiving special commendation agree to attend the Awards Ceremony and presentation at a date to be arranged.
