Congratulations to our 2023 Gordon Miller Award Winners – Plymouth Natural Grid.

Plymouth Natural Grid is an innovative project delivered by Plymouth City Council (PCC) in partnership with the National Trust. The project started in Winter 2021, and ended in Spring 2023. The project delivered 10% biodiversity net gain across ten PCC sites including seven LNRs, two CWS and one community green space. It is also delivering biodiversity and access improvements on two National Trust flagship sites within Plymouth; Saltram and Plymbridge.

Made up of three PCC staff and five National Trust Rangers the team has not only delivered the biodiversity net gain, but ran a national award-winning Kickstarter scheme and a successful community engagement campaign, working with communities in the most deprived areas of the city to promote engagement with nature and manage local green spaces.

Habitat improvement works were carried out across the PCC sites, and both habitat and access improvements at the NT sites, by the project team and cohorts of Kickstarter placements.  These placements stayed with the team for six months, learning practical skills, undertaking training, including first aid and strimming, and progressed through personal development sessions hosted by Real Ideas, the third delivery partner. 15 Kickstarter placements were hosted in total.

A comprehensive community engagement programme included work with schools to improve green spaces and nature areas, seed sowing, walks, talks and workshops.

The thrilled to present this year’s Gordon Miller Award to this deserving and successful project – watch out for a feature article in the next edition of Ranger Magazine to learn more about the Plymouth Natural Grid Project.