Biodiversity Challenge Awards 2026:
Winners and Highly Commended Projects
We're delighted to announce this year's Biodiversity Challenge Awards winners and highly commended projects. This was a competitive year, many congratulations to all of our listed projects and Champions!
01. Placemaking for Nature Award: Single Property
Award Winner:
Green Roof Shelters - BR Intentional Ecological Industrial Site
Judges' comments: “This organisation won the BIG Innovation Award in 2018. Judges were impressed with the level of monitoring and engagement carried out, as well as the high levels of stakeholder collaboration.”
Highly Commended:
Architektura Krajobrazu - Square in front of the “Zodiak” Warsaw Architecture Pavilion
Judges' comments: “This project combines strong technical elements with a strong ecological rationale. The financial benefit of reducing long term maintenance costs is particularly impressive.”
02. Placemaking for Nature Award: Development Scale
Award Winner:
KaKobierska - Serenity park
Judges' comments: “This entry demonstrated a biodiversity enhancement above and beyond the minimum. Judges were impressed by the use of innovative eDNA technologies, and the involvement of stakeholders right from the start. Monitoring and maintenance was strong - with marked out management zones, eDNA and invasive species monitoring, and invasive species monitoring, as well as… educational signage and boards, mindfulness walks, and more long-term involvements which make this a standout project.” .
Highly Commended:
Alexandra Steed Urban - SKY Campus
Judges' comments: “This entry showed great consideration for biodiversity using underground assets, as well as considering soil health. The altruistic approach taken by this entry was commendable.”
03. Placemaking for Nature Award: Neighbourhood to City Scale
Award Winner:
Alexandra Steed Urban - SEEPark Pathfinder Phase 1
Judge's comments: “This entry showed excellent stakeholder engagement, and sensitive handling of development with people and wildlife. This is a really good strategy and should be… supported, making this project a worthy winner.”
04. Biodiversity Feature Award: Nature Recovery
Award Winner:
BAM Nuttall Limited - Crossaig Substation
Judges' comments: “Judges felt this was a fantastic project, going above and beyond to deliver strong outcomes in a way that could be replicable in similar situations. They were impressed with the level of monitoring, particularly the use of innovative techniques and technologies. This project also shows excellent engagement with several stakeholder groups."
Highly Commended:
Ground Control Limited - Wildfell Centre for Environmental Recovery
Judges' comments: “This is a great example of a well-managed habitat bank model, strategically linking biodiversity management to local nature recovery strategies.”
The Environment Agency, Affinity Water and Dacorum Borough Council - Gadebridge Park River Restoration Project
Judges' comments: “This project was executed really well, and shows signs of early success. Restoring this river has clear benefits.”
Lambeth Council, Thames Water Utilities, Greater London Authority, St Matthew’s Estate Tenants Resident Association (SMETRA), Civic Engineers, LDA Design, Ringway Infrastructure Services and Oakstone Contracting - St Matthew's Rain Gardens and Meadows
Judges' comments: “This project brings many benefits for people and wildlife, with good awareness of local heritage. The entry goes over and above the requirements and demonstrates replicable and high impact approach.”
Network Rail; NatureScot; Forth Rivers Consulting / Forth Rivers Trust; Knoxfauld Farm landowner -Knoxfauld Farm Peatland Restoration Project
Judges' comments: “Knoxfauld is a brilliant project for large scale peatland restoration. They are excited to see what the results of this project show in the future.”
05. Biodiversity Feature Award: Coastal Eco-Engineering
Award Winner:
Fylde Council, Wyre Council, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency - Our Future Coast – Fylde Saltmarsh
Judges' comments: “This is a really interesting coastal protection project, particularly distinguished by meaningful community involvement through citizen science and recorded observations.”
06. Biodiversity Feature Award: Infrastructure Networks
Award Winner:
National Highways, Balfour Beatty and AtkinsRealis - The Cockcrow Heathland Green Bridge
Judges' comments: “This project is an exceptional landscape-scale reconnection project. Its defining strength is that the widening was entirely voluntary, yet combines rigorous international research, multidisciplinary design, early evidence of sand-lizard and other species movement, public access, research opportunities and a 15-year adaptive monitoring and maintenance framework. This project stood out as an exemplar in the field.”
07. Biodiversity Feature Award: Water Management
Award Winner:
Environment Agency, Calderdale Council, Arup, BAM Nuttall - Brighouse Flood Alleviation Scheme
Judges' comments: “Judges note that this is an impressive and well-structured scheme, using nature based solutions to good effect for water management and improving biodiversity with added consideration for public wellbeing and use. This project was delivered in a public space, and goes above and beyond to make sure this space is accessible to all.”
Highly Commended:
Network Rail; NatureScot; Forth Rivers Consulting / Forth Rivers Trust; Knoxfauld Farm landowner - Knoxfauld Farm Peatland Restoration Project
Judges' comments: “A fantastic example of what can be achieved with multiple stakeholders and in-depth research. This is a great example of an ambitious, well scoped project with nature at its core.”
08. Innovation For Nature Award
Award Winner:
EcoSpatial - FRIDAS
Judges' comments: “This project identified a key gap and innovated well to address it. Judges were impressed not only by the novelty of this design, but also that it was achieved through open source. A standout in the category.”
Highly Commended:
BAM UK and Ireland - Reimagining our depots for nature
Judges' comments: “By designing this project with the intention of replicating the method at other sites, BAM has provided an exemplar for others wishing to conduct similar work.”
09. Biodiversity Champion Award: Early Career Professional
Award Winner:
EHM; Heathrow - Lauren Scudder
Judges' comments: “The candidate is a highly capable early-career ecologist who has quickly become a trusted biodiversity specialist. They combine technical expertise with collaborative leadership, translating biodiversity requirements for engineering and project teams. Their creativity has tripled volunteering attendance from 4 to 12 participants, while their site visits, BBC interview and university engagement demonstrate genuine passion and influence beyond their core role.”
10. Biodiversity Champion Award: Established Professional
Award Winner:
Ground Control Limited - Chris Bawtree
Judges' comments: “A high achiever with a passion for the environment, and a breadth of experience. They have expanded their knowledge and skills whilst encouraging the same for others. They engage externally to promote nature not only within the profession but within the community and beyond.”
Highly Commended:
EcoSpatial - Katie Dawson
Judges' comments: “Their passion, knowledge and expertise for innovation in biodiversity is exceptional. They go above and beyond, taking the initiative to find creative and collaborative solutions, demonstrating a clear commitment to raising standards.”
Overall Winner
Award Winner:
National Highways, Balfour Beatty and AtkinsRealis - The Cockcrow Heathland Green Bridge