Participants and partners from the Youth in Nature project were genuinely thrilled to be presented with the 2017 Humber Nature Partnership Award at the Humber Nature Partnership conference held on 28th November.

Officially launched in April this year, Youth in Nature is a five year collaborative project between community organisation and project lead Probe (Hull) Limited, Child Dynamix, Environment Management Solutions Ltd and  Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

Through a wide-ranging programme of wildlife-related activity led by young people aged 11 - 24 years old, the project is aiming to both enhance the life chances of those involved and improve the natural and built environment to support and aid the sustainability of wildlife.

The selection panel for the Humber Nature Partnership Award readily recognised how Youth in Nature is contributing to the Local Nature Partnership’s aims to ensure the Humber Estuary provides a world class environment for wildlife; that communities can enjoy an increased understanding of their local natural environment; and that tourism and recreation benefit from The Humber whilst being sensitive to its wildlife and historic riches.

Achievements by Youth in Nature to date include:

• Over 300 young people engaged and informed by the project, with more than 50 of these remaining actively involved in activities over three consecutive months.
• The creation of six wildlife zones to include a roof top garden at a local community centre, one at a local primary school and a further zone at an industrial business premises.
• In August, twenty-four young Youth in Nature participants led an 8 mile beach clean between Withernsea and Kilnsea, inviting residents living along the route to “muck-in” and join the big clean-up.

Sara Booth-Card (pictured left with Sue Balthazar, Project Coordinator, Probe), Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Wildlife Coordinator for Youth in Nature said: “We were so excited when we heard we had won the award. Really it’s fantastic recognition of the hard work, enthusiasm and commitment of all the young people involved.”

Steve Alltoft, general manager of Probe (Hull) Ltd, said: “Youth in Nature will leave a legacy of young people who are committed, informed and influential in issues relating to the natural environment. They are very much driving this project’s success – the project partners are their facilitators and guiding hand. We are very grateful to Humber Nature Partnership for recognising the value of Youth in Nature.”

Youth in Nature is one of 31 projects across the country forming Our Bright Future which is a £33 million programme funded by the Big Lottery Fund. Over the next five years it will empower 100,000 young people with to make a difference to the environment and their local communities.

Please click here if you would like to find out more about the project or get involved.