Mareham Pastures community group clinches double award

The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust’s annual event recognises and celebrates inspiring activities that make a difference to the environment and encourage sustainability.

Friends of Mareham Pastures were successful in the Community Award category and was also declared the overall winner of the Lincolnshire Environmental Awards.

The group was formed back in 2003 and helped to transform an old landfill site into a nature reserve, with support from Lincolnshire County Council.

Ever since then, the team of just 20 volunteers make sure that the 14 hectare nature reserve is maintained. This includes looking after its woodlands, wildflower meadows, hedges and open grasslands. The group is always looking to improve the area and hosts events for the local community.

Mark Suffield, Chair of the Friends of Mareham Pastures, said: “I am so pleased that all the hard work of the volunteer group over the past 13 years has been rewarded.

“Mareham Pastures is a wonderful asset to the community and is used every day, by people of all ages.”

Councillor Colin Davie, Executive Member for Environment at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “The Friends of Mareham Pastures is a truly amazing group of volunteers – without them we would have not been able to transform this old landfill site into a haven for the whole community to enjoy.

“We are extremely grateful for their ongoing support and commitment in maintaining the nature reserve in all of its glory, and I’m delighted their hard work has received the recognition it deserves.”

Mareham Pastures is located between the Southfields Estate and the former Sleaford Household Waste Recycling Centre.

• For more information about Friends of Mareham Pastures, visit www.marehampastures.co.uk