Bright Green Nature was honoured and humbled to be awarded Gold in the Biodiversity category at the 2026 the Greener Gateway Community Awards, retaining the title for the second year running.
The award recognises the growing impact of our Wild Your Space programme, now in its fourth year, which empowers schools, families and community groups across the Scottish Borders to restore nature in their own gardens, schoolyards and community grounds.
Through a combination of microgrants, free native plants and materials, and hands-on ecological guidance, participants receive the tools and support they need to create meaningful change for wildlife in their local area. The programme also provides access to a growing tool library, making practical conservation accessible to all.
Since launching, the programme has received 149 community and school applications, with an 80% funding success rate in later rounds. Around 500 children have been directly involved in designing and delivering projects, with an estimated 3,000+ benefiting overall. Across the Borders, participants have sown 63 wildflower meadows, created 18 wildlife ponds, planted 182 trees and established 101 metres of native hedging.
New developments in 2026 include a Wild Your Space toolkit designed to help schoolteachers bring nature into their lesson plans, and plans to connect the network of micro-scale biodiversity hotspots into a broader regional ecosystem. The WYS Ambassador programme, which trains motivated local champions to lead nature projects in their own communities, is also expanding with a growing programme of training events and site visits.
Dr Karen Blackport, Founder of Bright Green Nature, said:
“Winning Gold for the second year running is a wonderful recognition of the energy, care and commitment shown by schools, families, volunteers, and community groups across the Borders. Wild Your Space began as a simple microgrant idea and has become a growing movement of communities taking real action for nature on their doorsteps. This award belongs to everyone who has dug, planted, pond-dipped, seeded and championed wildlife in their local area.”
The Greener Gateway Community Awards, run by Scottish Borders Council, celebrate the communities, projects and volunteers helping to make the region more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Gold, Silver and Bronze awards are presented across each category, alongside a Best in Category award.