2003 North Norfolk Environment Awards

7 July, 2003

Seventeen North Norfolk schools, businesses, community projects and green buildings are waiting to see who will win Environment Awards tomorrow (Tuesday, 8 July, 2003).

The awards will recognise the projects that have contributed most over the last year to the preservation and enhancement of the North Norfolk environment. The annual award scheme has been running since 1994.

The awards will be presented by Cyril Durrant, Chairman of North Norfolk District Council, at a ceremony at 2.30pm at Pensthorpe Waterfowl Park, near Fakenham. The media are welcome to attend.

The Environment Awards are given in five categories: Schools, Community Groups, Green Buildings, Small Businesses and Large Businesses. This year's entrants are as follows:

SCHOOLS - Category supported by the Dereham and Fakenham Times and North Norfolk News
Judges: Terry Redhead, Editor, Archant Weekly Newspapers; Councillor Tom Moore, NNDC; David Holmes, Director, How Hill. Prize: £250, runner-up £50.

• Colby School - An Environment Award winner in 2002, Colby has continued to build upon its work and its environmental policy aims guided by its 'Eco-Committee', and has gained Eco Schools Green Flag status. Pupils have investigated safe cycle routes and encouraged car sharing; planted the endangered black poplar in the school grounds; created sculptures from junk; given a presentation on their environmental practices to groups of Norfolk teachers and, with the help of adults, ensured the gardening club has flourished. The Field Study Centre is now used for a variety of environmental studies.
• Cromer Junior School - Following a waste audit through the Schools Waste Action Club, the School Council has been instrumental in trying to reduce waste in the school by providing recycling bags in every classroom, running waste-free lunches and educating other pupils by with recycling-themed assemblies. A neat playground is the result of pupils' involvement in a litter-picking rota. Letters to local businesses from the School Council have resulted in recycling bins for the playground and compost bins. The compost will be used on the school gardens. They are now expanding their work to look at healthier eating.

COMMUNITY GROUPS
Judges: Mike Terry, Head of Policy, NNDC; Councillor Tom Moore, NNDC; David Holmes, Director, How Hill. Prize: £250, runner-up £50.

• Alternative Flower Festival, Sculthorpe - Lack of cash to finance the local church's biennial flower festival inspired the organisers to seek alternative ideas. Out of this came the concept of creating 'flower' arrangements using recycled materials and at the same time increasing environmental awareness. Some 25 arrangements were made out of materials such as baked bean tins, plastic drink bottle tops, newspaper, parish magazines and knitting wool. The whole event was combined with a scarecrow trail and succeeded in attracting so much interest that income from the festival was more than doubled!
• Lower Green, Aldborough - The proceeds of being a 2002 Environment Award winner were used to provide more planting to allow this part of the village green to 'return to nature' and provide a habitat for wildflowers, birds and butterflies. A number of local adults and children were involved in the planting and local people help with the twice-yearly cut and the site's management.
• Rectory Meadow Project, Trunch - The second year of this village cemetery project has seen more planting and careful site management. A number of native trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses are now growing. Both written and photographic records are being kept, with regular reports in the parish magazine. Sixteen species of butterfly have been sighted, along with various other insects, amphibians, birds and mammals. Bird boxes and environmentally-friendly seating are being placed around the project for the benefit of visitors.
• St Mary's Church, Aldborough - Taken on as a project by villagers a few years ago, the churchyard is managed according to conservation principles to encourage and maintain an area of wildflowers, lichens, birds, butterflies, etc, in both the old and new churchyard area. Dog's tooth violets in early spring are a speciality. These were planted in the late 19th Century and are still spreading. Some 800 daffodil bulbs have also been planted and much of the site is now self-sustaining. A list on the noticeboard of plants found and hedging details gives information to visitors.

GREEN BUILDINGS
Judges: Councillor Rita Massingham, NNDC; Councillor Dan Corbett, NNDC; Neil Winder RIBA, architect. Prize: £250, runner-up £50.

• 6 Cromer Road, Bodham - This simple two-storey extension to an ex-council house demonstrates how a commonplace building project can be undertaken with careful regard to the environment yet at a normal cost. Its features include a timber framed inner leaf (which considerably reduced construction time); use of natural insulation materials throughout, solar tubes providing heat to the hot water cylinder and underfloor heating; velux roof lights for passive solar gain; reused roof tiles; a wood-pellet boiler, and low flush toilet. Finishing materials such as linseed oil paints, solvent free emulsion, natural wood wax and bamboo flooring were all selected to minimise the environmental impact.
• Dragonflies, Wallgate Lane, Little Snoring - An open-bay cartshed on a 17-acre site has been converted into a house, with particular attention paid to limiting impact on local wildlife and the general environment. The conversion makes good use of recycled pantiles, bricks, sleepers and beams throughout, and internal re-pointing has been done in lime. Electricity to this isolated site is from a wind turbine, with water from a borehole. Surface water is piped to a newly created adjacent wildlife pond. During conversion care was taken not to disturb two resident owls and the building now incorporates their own entrance in one gable end.
• Field Study Centre, Colby School - A redundant brick outbuilding in the school playground has been developed to provide an Environmental Study Centre featuring 'green' products and techniques. The basic external structure has been retained, with the raised roof insulated, slates reused, and solar panels (linked to a computer recording system) and a sun-pipe (to utilise natural daylight) installed. Externally, a rainwater butt has been provided, and as far as possible reclaimed or environmentally-friendly materials are used throughout. Details of the project are provided in the building as an education tool for its users.
• Jasmine Cottage, Saxlingham Road, Blakeney - Originally the site of a prefabricated bungalow this new high-specification two-storey house is built in rammed earth (ground floor) and cedar-clad timber frame (upper floor). The building is designed to make maximum use of sunlight throughout the day, and as well as extensive glazing it also has good natural cross-ventilation. Wherever possible, natural, non-toxic materials are used (eg for paints, flooring, insulation) and lime mortar and renders replace cement. Most timber is untreated, with a borax-based treatment used where necessary. All hardwood is sustainably-sourced. There is a strong commitment to utilise local materials (eg all earth for the walls is from within a 20-mile radius.) Recyclable aluminium rainwater goods make an external feature. Good insulation, double glazing and thermal properties are combined with a condensing boiler, wood burner, underfloor heating and low energy fittings.
• New House, 1 Fulcher Avenue, Cromer - Overlooking the railway station, this leftover brown field plot was cleverly developed to provide a multi-level softwood framed house. The timber frame has high levels of insulation and its orientation provides for passive solar gain and includes a south facing two-storey conservatory vented to the outside in summer and through the house with pre-warmed air in winter. The spoil from the site was used to shape the garden area, and the whole project was completed within a 'normal' budget.

SMALL BUSINESS (fewer than 10 employees)
Judges: Councillor Joyce Trett, NNDC; Councillor Peter Willcox, NNDC; Nick Hamer, Chairman, East Anglia Business Environment Club. Prize: £250, runner-up £50.

• Creative Construction (Norfolk) Ltd - This small, five-year-old Cromer-based building company has a clear environmental focus, and continues to expand its knowledge and experience in the use and sourcing of green building products and methods. This has led them not only to be able to persuade customers of the 'feelgood' factor of their methods, but also the economic benefits, and in every instance they actively encourage clients to take the green route. Contracts vary from large-scale conversions to a small house extension. The company is also involved in talks, seminars and exhibitions aiming to educate other businesses and the public.
• Everlasting Evergreen, Suffield - With a husband already involved in the can recycling business, the owner of this company is saying 'don't kill a tree for Christmas', and has diversified into pot-grown Christmas trees which are hired out for Christmas, corporate functions, parties, etc. With all trees personally labelled, hirers can re-hire the same tree annually. This is a long-term venture, with more than 20 varieties grown mainly from seed. They are hand-weeded and all pots are washed and re-used. Sub-standard trees are planted to provide Christmas foliage or used for firewood. Collection of hired trees is already combined with other business trips, and this year delivery (and charges) are also to be rationalised.
• Seaview Caravan Park, East Runton - Since taking over this small caravan park three years ago, its owners have introduced and promoted on-site recycling and composting with well-signposted containers for all recyclables. They also endeavour to support the local economy by buying stock for the site shop locally, and using local tradesmen. The wildlife habitat on the 2.5-acre site is being improved with the planting of native hedgerows and wildflower areas. No pesticides are used on the site, and this year the park is encouraging its visitors to take part in a national ladybird survey.
• "thecafé" at Whalebone House, Cley - Owned and run by two partners, this is a 12-cover vegetarian restaurant with two guest bedrooms. The owners are very committed to ethical, environmental and (by their own admission) 'uncompromising' principles, and this is reflected in their business (which is also their home). Web-based marketing provides potential customers with a great deal of information on their sustainability principles. Produce for the restaurant is sourced locally and only fresh raw ingredients are used, with availability dictating the daily menu. This also minimises waste. All materials for the restaurant/home are re-used or recycled wherever possible, electricity is from a green supplier and banking is with an ethical company. As well as minimising their own (small) car usage the owners encourage guests to explore locally, using buses, walking or cycling.

LARGE BUSINESS
Judges: Councillor Joyce Trett, NNDC; Councillor Peter Willcox, NNDC; Nick Hamer, Chairman, East Anglia Business Environment Club. Prize: trophy hand-made by Sidestrand Hall School pupils, runner-up £50.

• Hilltop Development Centre - An Environment Award winner in 1994, this centre has continued to progress, and over the past few years has been able to purchase additional land to develop the site. This land was previously used as a waste transfer site and a Highways Depot. Extensive site clearance has included re-use of materials found on site and the bunding of oil tanks with the help of an environmental loan. An old climbing tower has been removed and the whole area redeveloped to provide an educational centre in a wooded setting.
• Heinz Frozen & Chilled Foods, Worstead - When this potato products factory was taken over by Heinz in 1999 it was the only one in the group already working towards an Environmental Management System (ISO14001). By using local produce and programmed improvements in water, energy usage, recycling, etc, ISO14001 certification was gained in 2002. To compliment this a new biodiversity initiative has been introduced. A site survey has been undertaken and suggestions from this, which will both improve the site visually and help wildlife, are to be introduced over a five-year period. Work will include planting of indigenous species, reviving a willowed bog area, and providing bird and bat boxes (made from old pallets). Staff are involved in environmental ideas and improvements and management hope the surroundings will add an extra dimension to the factory environment.
  

ENDS