Search is on for unsung heroes of the British countryside

Nominations have officially opened for this year’s Schöffel Countryside Awards which return following the success of last year’s inaugural event.

Led by wildlife charity Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and country clothing brand Schöffel Country, it is a celebration of private land managers, farms and partnerships whose dedication to wildlife management and working conservation is helping to improve the health of the British countryside.

Entries are encouraged from all quarters, whether it be an individual striving to make a difference on a couple of acres, or a collaborative project spanning several farms or estates. It is a simple process to enter or nominate and all the details can be found on the Schöffel Countryside Awards website.

Marcus Janssen, Schöffel Country’s executive director and a judge, says: “When we first launched these awards a year ago, we could never have imagined the level of interest, resulting in more than 80 nominations. What impressed us more than anything though was the passion, innovation and hard work evident when visiting the finalists.

“It’s crucial that we champion the efforts of these people. From moorland to woodland and arable land to water meadows, their work benefits countless habitats and species.

“So often these people do not get the credit they deserve – and we want to change that.”

Nick von Westenholz, GWCT’s chief executive officer, says: “Last year’s winners showed us that countryside heroes can be found right across the UK – people who, day in and day out, deliver benefits for the environment and demonstrate that conservation and food production are not opposing forces, but can work hand in hand.

“These ‘working conservationists’ are delivering tangible, on-the-ground results for wildlife, and their dedication embodies exactly what the GWCT stands for: practical, science-led conservation carried out by those who live and work on the land.

“Many of these individuals go largely unrecognised, but we want to celebrate their efforts. If you know someone who is quietly making a difference every day in our countryside, we encourage you to nominate them.”

Once again, the awards span six categories:

• Working Conservationist – This category celebrates an individual who has dedicated much of their life to the conservation of flora and fauna in the British countryside.
• Nature-Friendly Farm/Estate – This category celebrates farms, tenant farms, and estates that have excelled in implementing practices that promote biodiversity and species recovery.
• Innovation in Conservation – This category champions individuals or groups who have developed innovative solutions, technologies or methods that advance conservation and the natural environment.
• Farm-Environment Partnership – This category recognises farms that have formed successful partnerships with others, showcasing the positive outcomes of collaboration.
• Wetland & Watercourse Conservation – This category focuses on efforts and achievements in creating and restoring wetland habitats and watercourses to the benefit of biodiversity and ecosystems.
• Rising Star – This category shines a light on young individuals who are demonstrating an outstanding approach to conservation.

Tom Hilder, winner of the Rising Star Award last year, reflects on his experience and says:

“I was thoroughly shocked when I got the call to say that I had been nominated for the Rising Star Award. I had no clue that my career had been watched so closely, nor that it was so well admired by those around me. During the award ceremony itself, complete strangers were coming up to me and congratulating me on my hard work and achievements. Something that, for me, was just my day-to-day passion of working to restore nature and biodiversity in the UK.

“The awards provided me and the many other nominees with a great opportunity to shout about all the hard work we do to protect and enhance the UK’s biodiversity. Hard work that for many, often goes unnoticed.

“These awards are all about bringing those hard-working individuals at the forefront of conservation into the foreground of society too. I would, without a doubt, encourage everyone to step forward and nominate the first person or project that comes to mind when they think of the battle to reverse the UK’s climate and biodiversity crisis.”

Nominations for the 2026 Schöffel Countryside Awards – in partnership with GWCT – opened on 9 January and the last day to submit entries will be 31 March.