Alan Titchmarsh Presents Queen’s Award to Marwell Wildlife
Gardening legend Alan Titchmarsh, alongside Deputy Lieutenant Simon Tufnell, made a special visit to hand over Marwell Wildlife’s prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development.
A Royal Honour with Added Significance
Titchmarsh explained the importance of the award, saying:
“Her Majesty The Queen made these awards, and we assume His Majesty The King will continue the tradition, based on advice from a broad advisory committee spanning government, industry, and trade unions.
“Normally announced on The Queen’s birthday each 21 April, this presentation was delayed due to recent events. In a way, it makes it more poignant. You will be among the last recipients of The Queen’s Award for Enterprise — which makes it even more special.”
He noted only seven such awards were presented in Hampshire in 2022, an achievement the county can proudly boast.
Marwell’s Green Credentials Underlined
Mr Titchmarsh praised Marwell’s commitment to sustainability and conservation, highlighting the importance of local action:
“Marwell has shown a clear dedication to preserving nature, which is vital in today’s complex environmental climate.
“The world begins at our doorstep — often in the garden, a microcosm of nature we tend to overlook while stressing about the global picture.
“Success in nature conservation starts with the particular, not the general. Marwell gets this through its fantastic initiatives.
“It’s a shame we use big words for something as simple as caring for our patch of earth — stewardship and husbandry might be old-fashioned words, but they are more essential now than ever.
“Marwell’s team understands the joy and responsibility of securing a thriving future for the planet, country, county, and their local home.”
Eco Innovations That Make a Difference
The Queen’s Award, announced last year but postponed due to the mourning period after The Queen’s passing, celebrates Marwell’s incredible work in biodiversity, education, and sustainability.
- The charity’s standout project: reintroducing scimitar-horned oryx to Tunisia, rescuing a species once declared extinct in the wild.
- Innovative energy solutions, including harnessing zoo poo to heat the zoo’s largest buildings — a key factor in Marwell achieving carbon negative status.
James Cretney, Marwell’s Chief Executive, said:
“We’re thrilled to receive this award and honoured by the recognition of our conservation work. It was especially inspiring to have Alan, someone with such love and deep knowledge of nature, present the award to us.”
