Winners announced for the 2026 Local Government Ecology Awards

We are excited to announce this year's winners of the Local Government Ecology Awards! The Awards, run by Verna and the Association of Local Government Ecologists (ALGE), celebrate the positive impact of ecologists in local government. The winners were chosen from a competitive field of nominations from all over the country, and were judged by an independent panel. The judges were:

• Iain Boulton, Vice Chair of the Association of Local Government Ecologists.
• Sally Hayns, CEO, Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.
• Nick White, Principal Advisor, Net Gain, Natural England.

Here are the winners:

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Carolyn is the sole planning ecology officer at Isle of Wight Council, where she has been instrumental in the rollout of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). She has made a complex subject accessible to planning officers, agents, developers and the public through training sessions and regular updates. Carolyn also played a key role in the Isle of Wight's Local Nature Recovery Strategy, one of the first in the country to be approved by Natural England.

James Brewer, Planning Policy Manager at Isle of Wight Council, said: "Carolyn has provided invaluable help to planning officers, agents, developers and the public as we all try to understand and implement BNG on the island. In what can be a very complicated subject to digest, her positive and forward looking approach has been refreshing and helped many people get to grips with navigating all the new processes that come with BNG."

Karen Bouchard of Isle of Wight Council added: "Carolyn is such a positive force - her enthusiasm and professionalism are an absolute joy to behold. Her passion for ecology shines through everything she does, and she has a remarkable ability to motivate and inspire others to work toward meaningful ecological solutions."

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Siobhan is leading the creation of habitat banks and building new partnerships with organisations across the borough to tackle habitat fragmentation at Halton Borough Council. Beyond her day job, Siobhan lends her expertise to the Halton Moth Group, a citizen science community recognised with a Volunteer Group of the Year award from the Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside Wildlife Trust. She leads late-night moth trapping sessions, mentors new surveyors, and has spoken to students about careers in ecology.

Paul Boardman, Environment Services Manager at Halton Borough Council, said: "Siobhan's dedication to conservation and biodiversity has made a real and lasting impact in our borough, and we're proud to see her hard work and enthusiasm recognised through this award. Her commitment extends beyond her role at Halton Borough Council, with her volunteering and surveying efforts with Halton Moth Group also demonstrating her passion for protecting and understanding our natural environment."

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Linsey works at Horsham District Council, where she has driven meaningful improvements for biodiversity through her work on BNG legislation, ensuring planning decisions are made with nature firmly in mind. She has explored how the Environmental Benefits from Nature tool can be used alongside BNG to take a more holistic approach to development design, and has investigated how carbon sequestration can be integrated into BNG delivery to support climate targets. Linsey is also a dedicated field ecologist, actively undertaking dormouse monitoring surveys across the district, and has mentored council apprentices on BNG, planning processes and site visits.

Tay Pardoe, Environmental Apprentice at Horsham District Council, said: "Linsey's work on Biodiversity Net Gain, the Environmental Benefits from Nature Tool, and carbon sequestration demonstrates scientific excellence and real-world impact in improving the delivery of ecosystem services. She is a dedicated hardworking professional whose passion for ecology makes her a true asset to the Council and an inspiration to her colleagues."

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