Fenland says thank you to volunteers who put time and effort into Street Pride, In Bloom and other groups keeping our area green and pleasant

Philip Snowdon picks up the award for Best Nature Project on behalf of Doddington Street Pride IMG_4817: Whittlesey Street Pride volunteers Fred Mills and Peter Davies receive the award for Best Street Scene IMG_4818: John and Chris Crossan receive the award for Best Promotional Project on behalf of Benwick In Bloom/Street Pri (Image: Archant)

Street Pride, In Bloom and Friends groups were honoured for their hard work to improve the district’s streets, parks and green spaces at Fenland District Council’s annual celebration evening on Thursday, October 4.

Fenland’s new Getting It Sorted recycling volunteers joined the event too this year, and were thanked for helping others to improve their recycling efforts.

A total of 112 volunteers attended the evening at March Braza Club, with awards given for the best nature, partnership, street scene and promotional project, along with best clean up, best youth project and new for this year, the best reduce, reuse, recycling project.

Councillor Peter Murphy, the portfolio holder for the environment, thanked volunteers for their continued dedication and passion to making Fenland a better place to live and work.

Christine Maxwell and Joy Simpson receive the award for the Best Reduce, Reuse, Recycling Project on behalf of Tydd St Giles Street Pride IMG_4817: Whittlesey Street Pride volunteers Fred Mills and Peter Davies receive the award for Best Street Scene IMG_4818: John and Chris Crossan receive the award for Best Promotional Project on behalf of Benwick In Bloom/Street Pri (Image: Archant)

“This evening is a time to say thank you to all the committed and dedicated groups of volunteers for all your enthusiasm and hard work for the benefit of everyone. The work carried out by all of you here tonight continues to make a huge difference to Fenland.

“It is wonderful to see how many of you have gone beyond litter-picking by broadening your aims to focus on new activities such as clearing neglected sites. So a massive ‘thank you’ to everyone.”

The ceremony heard that in the last six months alone, since April 2018, there had been more than 100 events planned by the groups to improve local areas.

This year has also seen two new Street Pride groups formed in Murrow and Wimblington, taking the total number to 16.

Diane Cutler picks up the award for Best Clean Up on behalf of Murrow Street Pride IMG_4817: Whittlesey Street Pride volunteers Fred Mills and Peter Davies receive the award for Best Street Scene IMG_4818: John and Chris Crossan receive the award for Best Promotional Project on behalf of Benwick In Bloom/Street Pri (Image: Archant)

Cllr Murphy presented the awards along with the council’s Street Pride co-ordinator Rebecca Robinett.

The winners were:

• Best Nature Project

Whittlesey Street Pride volunteers Fred Mills and Peter Davies receive the award for Best Street Scene IMG_4817: Whittlesey Street Pride volunteers Fred Mills and Peter Davies receive the award for Best Street Scene IMG_4818: John and Chris Crossan receive the award for Best Promotional Project on behalf of Benwick In Bloom/Street Pri (Image: Archant)

Doddington Street Pride group; for its pond restoration project, which will result in two ponds in the village being enhanced.

• Best Partnership Project

March Street Pride/In Bloom; for its partnership with waste management company Amey.

Chatteris In Bloom/Street Pride volunteers Lesley Day and Tina Prior receive the award for Best Youth Project with youth members of Chatteris Royal British Legion IMG_4817: Whittlesey Street Pride volunteers Fred Mills and Peter Davies receive the award for Best Street Scene IMG_4818: John and Chris Crossan receive the award for Best Promotional Project on behalf of Benwick In Bloom/Street Pri (Image: Archant)

• Best Street Scene Project

Whittlesey Street Pride; for its beet-cutter themed anniversary garden, created with £4,000 of Tesco ‘Bags of Help’ funding.

Highly commended – Manea Street Pride; for looking after a number of flower tubs in the village and fundraising to add more to their collection.

John and Chris Crossan receive the award for Best Promotional Project on behalf of Benwick In Bloom/Street Pride IMG_4817: Whittlesey Street Pride volunteers Fred Mills and Peter Davies receive the award for Best Street Scene IMG_4818: John and Chris Crossan receive the award for Best Promotional Project on behalf of Benwick In Bloom/Street Pri (Image: Archant)

• Best Promotional Project

Benwick In Bloom/Street Pride; for its yarn bombing initiative! Members knitted figures to brighten up the village and raise awareness of cancer.

Highly commended – Friends of Rings End Nature Reserve; for its work promoting the reserve, with amphibian walks, and activities including a bat walk, dawn chorus walk, bush craft and pond dipping.

March Street Pride/In Bloom volunteers Patricia Merrett and Frances Murray receive the award for Best Partnership Project. IMG_4817: Whittlesey Street Pride volunteers Fred Mills and Peter Davies receive the award for Best Street Scene IMG_4818: John and Chris Crossan receive the award for Best Promotional Project on behalf of Benwick In Bloom/Street Pri (Image: Archant)

• Best Clean Up

Murrow Street Pride. One of the newest Street Pride groups to join the ranks, members held a successful debut community litter pick and have already decided to hold monthly litter picks and identify areas for improvement in the village.

Highly commended – Wimblington Street Pride. There has been a desire to set up a group in the village for some time, and following a successful litter pick and inaugural meeting in July it was finally constituted.

• Best Youth Project

Chatteris In Bloom/Street Pride; for an eye-catching bus shelter mural marking 100 years since the end of the First World War in partnership with youth members of Chatteris Royal British Legion.

• Best Reduce, Reuse, Recycling Project – a new category this year.

Tydd St Giles Street Pride; for upcycling tired-looking planters into attractive new features for the village.

Highly commended – Wisbech Adventure Playpark; for becoming Getting It Sorted recycling champions to teach others how to recycle more, organising recycling litter picks and making recycled crafts with local children.

The evening also included a hog roast supper and bingo, along with a presentation from Phil Clark, from Friends of Rings End Nature Reserve, about the work volunteers do to promote and develop the reserve.

Cllr Murphy also presented £500 start-up grants to the two newest Street Pride groups, Murrow and Wimblington.