Earthmovers winners 2010

13 September 2010

The awards are made at our annual conference and here are our winners for 2010.

Group of the year:
Harwich Peninsula

Harwich Peninsula has transformed itself from a group with few members, meetings or campaigns into a vibrant and active group.

The group now has its own website and facebook page. More than 50 people have already signed up for their online newsletter. And regular meetings have helped attract new members.

It's our ethos that everyone has value. Everyone has potential.

Adam Smith, group Coordinator on how the group turned things around.

Campaign or Project of the year:
Grow to eat well - Portsmouth Friends of the Earth

Portsmouth Friends of the Earth secured £250,000 from the Big Lottery to help children grow food at school. The group is focusing on schools in the most deprived areas. The aim is to create growing areas, provide composting facilities and show children and staff how to grow herbs and vegetables.

Considering the quality of the other nominees for this award we're very humbled you've given it to us.

Portsmouth Friends of the Earth on receiving the award.

Friend of the Earth:
Ali Abbas - Manchester Friends of the Earth

Ali's commitment and drive to engage new members helped turn Manchester Friends of the Earth into the large and active group it is today. Fellow group members describe him as "a campaigning legend" and "a constant source of inspiration". He's even reduced his working hours so that he can dedicate more time to campaigning.

It is amazing to see what power people have over politics.

Ali talks onwhy he loves campaigning.

Spreading the word:
Green guide - Shrewsbury Friends of the Earth

The group has been producing a free 'green guide' for people in Shrewsbury since 1988. What started as 3 sheets of paper about local recycling facilities is now a colourful 60-page guide. It's packed full of lifestyle tips, green business listings and information on local and national campaigns.

The latest edition was snapped up by 5,000 people.

People's choice awards

As voted by our local group members.

In the media

Warwickshire Network turned a potential crisis into a great story in the Coventry Telegraph.

Photo of the year

Leicester Friends of the Earth picked up the Photo of the year award for their image of Malcolm Hunter at the World Naked Bike Ride. Group member Malcolm - wearing the caption 'they're stripping our seas bare' and not much else - was there to promote a campaign calling for the establishment of more marine reserves.