High Life Highland honoured for environmental work at Seriously Social Awards in Manchester, hosted by former Olympic champion Sally Gunnell
High Life Highland’s green credentials have been honoured after it clinched a national award.
It was honoured with the Environment prize at the first ever Seriously Social Awards, which were held in Manchester and hosted by famous world-beating British athlete Sally Gunnell.
The event was organised by Community Leisure UK – a members’ association that specialises in charitable trusts delivering public leisure and culture services across the UK.
And High Life Highland was honoured for its “dedication to making life better across the region” through a wide array of projects, exhibitions, and educational initiatives that aim to ensure that everyone can access, protect, and enjoy the natural world.
High Life Highland chief executive Steve Walsh was in Manchester to collect the award. He said: “We are all absolutely delighted to be a winner in the first ever Seriously Social Awards.
“I want to particularly thank our ranger service for ensuring that we are continuing to do all we can to protect and enhance our environment while at the same time, doing what we can to support better health and wellbeing of people across the Highlands.”
The charity runs a range of environment-related services - including the GROW gardeners project at the Inverness Botanic Gardens and the restoration of the Highland Folk Museum’s curling pond with the Cairngorms National Park Junior Rangers. Other initiatives have seen the Learning for Life team support asylum seekers learning English by exploring the local environment. while the library service has seen many of its facilities become green hubs of environmental education and climate engagement.
In addition, the High Life Highland countryside rangers have been instrumental in the creation of the Highland Wildflower Meadow Mosaic project - which has resulted in more than 60 vibrant meadows being created in communities across the region with the support of local volunteers. The service also carries out an array of biodiversity monitoring, practical environment conservation activities and educational initiatives.
Imogen Furlong, High Life Highland’s countryside ranger service manager said: “In addition to supporting the wide variety of environmental work undertaken by the charity, this year High Life Highland also signed The Highland Charter for Climate, Nature and Health further demonstrating our dedication to environmental sustainability.
“This commitment recognises the essential connection between healthy environments and healthy communities, pledging to incorporate sustainable practices into all areas of our work. We are over the moon to be recognised nationally for all our efforts.”
You can read High Life Highland’s submission to the Seriously Social Awards here: High Life Highland: Seriously Social About the Environment.
