An impressive local project at Cator Park in south east London has won the 'Sir David Attenborough Award for enhancing biodiversity'.
The net biodiversity gain project has seen a number of organisations work to 'rewild' Cator Park, increasing biodiversity and encouraging birds, mammals and insects to nest among the ponds, wetlands, trees and wildflowers.
The project has been led by Berkelely, working with Greenwich Council, London Wildlife Trust and HTA Design to the benefit of the park in Kidbrooke Village.
On completion, Kidbrooke Village will have achieved a net biodiversity gain of over 200%.
And in recognition of its impact, the project has won the ‘Sir David Attenborough Award for Enhancing Biodiversity' and the 'Overall President's Award', as chosen by the Landscape Institute.
The former celebrates projects which emphasise the enhancement or connectivity of habitats for biodiversity, while the latter recognises the best landscape scheme of the year.
HTA's James Lord said he was "over the moon" that Cator Park had won the prestigious awards.
"Cator Park is a celebration of the outdoors, blending play provision with the natural ecology and heritage of the site.
"Bringing wildlife back into the city and people and nature together, Cator Park demonstrates how the development of brownfield sites can contribute to wider biodiversity gains within cities and build sustainable communities.
"Many congratulations to the team at Berkeley, London Wildlife Trust, HTA Design and everyone else who worked so hard to make the project such a success.”
It is the first of Berkeley Group's 40 net biodiversity gain projects to reach maturity.
Together these projects will create 480 acres of new or improved natural habitats.
The park also has a new play area developed in collaboration with Apes Adventure Playground Engineers (designers of the Olympic Park Playground).
Karl Whiteman, Divisional Managing Director at Berkeley East Thames, said: “Berkeley has made a commitment to ensure all our new developments create a net biodiversity gain, and it’s fantastic to see this come to fruition at Cator Park and Kidbrooke Village.
"Thanks to our partnership with the Royal Borough of Greenwich, HTA Design and London Wildlife Trust, Cator Park is a fantastic haven for nature, where new species are thriving.
"The park is a beautiful, biodiverse space that is loved by the community, and we are delighted to see its impact recognised with this new award.”
The Landscape Institute Awards celebrate the value of landscape in connecting people, place and nature.
The virtual ceremony on 26 November was presented by Countryfile’s Julia Bradbury, alongside special guest Rebecca Pow MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here