The Allestree Park Community Rewilding Project has won two major honours at the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) Awards 2026: the Best Practice Stakeholder Engagement Award and the prestigious Tony Bradshaw Award for Outstanding Best Practice.
The Best Practice Stakeholder Engagement Award was presented at the CIEEM Awards ceremony on 4 November 2026. As a category winner, the project was automatically entered into the Tony Bradshaw Award for Outstanding Best Practice, which recognises the overall excellence of the Best Practice Award-winning projects.
The Allestree Park Community Rewilding Project was recognised for its collaborative approach to transforming Allestree Park into a thriving nature-rich landscape while ensuring local communities, residents, volunteers, visitors, businesses and partner organisations have played an active role in shaping the project's development.
The award-winning submission was made by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust on behalf of the project partnership, which includes Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Derby City Council and the University of Derby.
Since its inception, the project has placed community engagement at its heart, creating opportunities for people to learn about rewilding, contribute to community conversations, participate in practical rewilding activities and connect with nature within Derby's largest public park.
Andy Honman, Wilder Connections Officer at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, said:
"We are delighted that the Allestree Park Community Rewilding Project has received this national recognition. To win the Best Practice Stakeholder Engagement Award and then go on to receive the Tony Bradshaw Award for Outstanding Best Practice is an incredible achievement for everyone involved.
“Rewilding is about more than restoring nature; it's about building lasting relationships with people and creating shared ownership of the landscape. These awards reflect the dedication of everyone who has contributed to the project, from local residents and volunteers to our partners and stakeholders."
Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability at Derby City Council, said:
"These awards demonstrates what can be achieved when organisations work together with communities to deliver positive environmental change. Allestree Park is becoming a nationally significant example of urban rewilding, and we are proud of the role local people have played in its success."
Dr Caroline Harvey, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Derby and Project Lead Investigator, said:
"The partnership has combined research, community engagement and practical conservation to create a project that delivers benefits for both people and nature.
“The benefits of community rewilding on this scale have not been seen before in the UK, and it is great to see Derby taking the lead in this way.
“Our research here at the University of Derby shows that spending time in nature is beneficial for health and wellbeing, and the increase in biodiversity that people are noticing will have a positive impact for those visiting the park.
“We are thrilled to see this work recognised by CIEEM."
The project partnership would like to thank everyone who has supported the initiative and contributed to its continued success. The award highlights the importance of meaningful stakeholder engagement in delivering long-term environmental outcomes and demonstrates the value of collaborative approaches to nature recovery.
Find out more about the Allestree Park Community Rewilding Project here: https://www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/rewilding-allestree-park
