top of page

We're pleased to bring you the Biodiversity Challenge Awards 2025 winners!

Overall winner

Sponsored by:

image.png

Judges' comments:
This year's category winners showcased strongly against all aspects of the judging criteria, but the scale and the scope of this particular project, the varying landscapes restored, the sheer number of organisations and volunteers engaged, and strategic significance make this a worthy overall winner.

1. Placemaking for Nature Award: Single Building 
No entries

Anchor 1

2. Placemaking for Nature Award: Multi-property 

Sponsored by:

Anchor 2
image.png

Judges' comments:
Judges commented that this is an exemplar case study showing best practice that could and should be shared with other developers. The synergies between a wide range of organisations and sharing of best practice with residents was something that really elevated this project from the others.

Anchor 3

 3. Placemaking for Nature Award: Mixed Land Use and Ownership

Sponsored by:

image.png

Judges' comments:
Judges praised this nationally significant project which has delivered large scale reductions in water volumes entering the sewer system, boosted biodiversity throughout the town, and created social value and exemplified innovation.

Highly commended

Judges' comments:
Judges commended the focus on health and well-being benefits of biodiversity interventions, an important and often undervalued benefit of nature restoration.

Anchor 4
image.png

4. Biodiversity Feature Award: Nature Recovery
​
Sponsored by:

Judges' comments:
This project has done a fantastic job at transforming underutlised grassland into a biodiversity rich, accessible space, providing connection to nature for surrounding communities with limited local access.

Highly commended

Judges' comments:
While supporting the development of a new large woodland, judges were particularly impressed with the collaborative efforts and community and volunteer engagement throughout this project.

Anchor 5

5. Biodiversity Feature Award: Coastal Eco-engineering

Sponsored by:

image.png

Judges' comments:
Judges were impressed with how the scheme worked with nature rather than trying to control it. This is an ambitious project with a wide range of monitoring measures that are now being used to verify and justify this nature-based approach.

Highly commended

Judges' comments:
Judges were impressed with the planning and execution of this flood defence scheme that delivered for nature while protecting communities.

Anchor 6

6. Biodiversity Feature Award: Infrastructure Networks 

Sponsored by: 

image.png

Judges' comments:
Judges stated that this project should inspire and encourage other organisations with wide landownership to take action to protect, restore and enhance habitats at a landscape scale. The project reflects a proactive approach, with a clear decision pathway on their design and review process, moving from concept development to delivery at scale, providing extensive multi-benefits for nature and people.

Highly commended

Judges' comments:
Judges were impressed with the well conceptualised and planned delivery of biodiversity interventions across a wide estate.

Anchor 7

7. Biodiversity Feature Award: Water Management

Sponsored by:

image.png

Judges' comments:
The judges praised the scale of restoration and resilience that has been enabled through this project. Ongoing monitoring and maintenance, secured through close collaboration with landowners ensures this project leaves a clear legacy.

Highly commended

Judges' comments:
The Judges recognised this as a technically excellent intervention. It provides nutrient neutrality and biodiversity benefits, transforming a previously intensively farmed field into a functioning aquatic habitat.

Anchor 8

8. Innovation for Nature Award
 
Sponsored by:

image.png

Judges' comments:
The judges were impressed by this project, specially by the opportunity to replicate it around the world, reclaiming space for nature in even the most urbanised and unlikely areas.

Highly commended

Judges' comments:
Judges found the project to be a tangible, measurable and unique approach to addressing the challenge of biodiversity being undervalued in cities.

Judges' comments:
Judges were encouraged by this project that will provide a mechanism for incorporating nature-based solutions in future coastline management strategies through a transformative natural capital and ecosystem services framework.

Anchor 9

9. Biodiversity Champion Award: Early Career Professional
(Up to 5 years in biodiversity-related work)

Judges' comments:
Judges were impressed with this person's clear passion for biodiversity. They demonstrate a high level of professional competency and an impressive delivery of CPD training, as well as championing biodiversity initiatives throughout their organisation.

Highly commended

Judges' comments:
Judges praised this person's commitment to volunteering and action to educate and engage younger generations with the outdoors, to help instill environmental stewardship as they grow.

Anchor 10

10. Biodiversity Champion Award: Established Professional
(Over 5 years in biodiversity-related work)

Judges' comments:
A very impressive leader with great knowledge and passion that has delivered real meaningful change in their sector. Beyond pushing for greater biodiversity benefits within their own organisation's operations, they contributed to design guides and specialist products, supporting the implementation of biodiversity and habitat interventions across the industry.

Highly commended

Judges' comments:
Judges wanted to recognise their outstanding achievements and contributions to research, and delivery of work to protect and restore marine environments.

bottom of page