Octavia Hill

Do you know someone who’s worked tirelessly to protect a patch of green space near you? Have you got a favourite teacher who’s inspired you to do something for nature? Or is there a famous person who’s challenging the system to make life better that you admire?

If so, they could be a candidate for a new award named after Octavia Hill, a Victorian social reformer and a founder of the National Trust. The Octavia Hill Awards aim to find the modern-day champions and guardians of our precious outdoor spaces.

Octavia Hill died in 1912 and to mark the centenary the National Trust, in partnership with Countryfile Magazine, is offering six awards that celebrate individuals and groups that are keeping Octavia Hill’s legacy alive:

• Growing Hero – this award could be someone who’s set up a community growing scheme, or saved allotments and made a real difference.

• Natural Hero – for individuals working for community spaces that matter to people and wildlife – in woodlands, nature reserves or orchards.

• Inspirational Hero – recognising someone, perhaps a teacher, youth worker or ranger/warden, inspiring and nurturing the next generation of enthusiasts.

• The People’s Campaigner celebrates a person in the public spotlight who has done something amazing to champion an issue or cause.

• Green Space Guardians – this award is for a group or organisation, big or small, that has created a lot of noise (locally or nationally) to champion green spaces and places.

• ‘Love Places’ award – specifically for National Trust volunteers, individuals or groups who have enabled local communities to benefit from the open places that are important to them.

The awards are open to all ages and will be given for work carried out between January 1 2010 and December 31 2011. The closing date for entries is Monday January 16.

Full details of how to enter can be found here

The winners will be announced in June 2012 and profiled in Countryfile Magazine.