Froglife volunteer scoops green award

Froglife is very pleased to announce that one of our youngest volunteers has had her achievements recognised at a local awards ceremony. Amy Hamlett was awarded Young Green Achiever of the Year at Saturday night’s Huntingdonshire Green Heart Community Awards.

Amy began volunteering with Froglife when she was just five years old and over the last seven years has developed into an enthusiastic and thoughtful young person who’s taken the lead on many environmental projects and fundraising initiatives.

“We’re so proud of Amy,” said Froglife’s Cacey Barks who nominated Amy for the award. “She’s always so eager to get involved – helping Froglife comes as second nature to her! Whether it’s making papier mache toads or doing a Fun Run we know we can rely on Amy to do a wonderful job of whatever she can. She’s done some incredible things and it’s great for her hard work to be recognised with this award.”

Amy’s achievements include acting as a Froglife representative at various events, helping to spread our message, and taking part in some amazing fundraising activities – earlier this year she completed a 3000m swim for our Tuppence a Toad campaign. Amy also helped found the Eco Club at Farcet School and was involved in developing the Secret Garden – a project which was key to the school receiving their Eco Schools Green Flag Award.

“When they said my name and I realised I’d won I didn’t think it was real, it was so much of a surprise!” said Amy on receiving her award. “I enjoy doing charity work because I know it helps the things the charity supports but I also just enjoy doing things out and about. I really like getting muddy so digging ponds is a perfect thing for me to do! Froglife is the charity I support the most because not only does my mum work there but I love the animals too - frogs are cute and snakes aren’t slimy even though people think they are!”

Amy faced some stiff competition from the other finalists, who all deserve a mention:

- Rebecca Harrold has been heavily involved with her school’s Fairtrade initiative and has helped numerous local conservation projects through her work as a Girlguide.

- Isabelle Childerly is one of Thorndown Junior School’s Eco-Rangers, who works hard to improve the environmental impact of the school. Isabelle has helped make and display posters to remind pupils and staff to save energy.

- Sonia Taylor is a sixth form leader on Hinchingbrooke School’s student council. She keeps a close eye on her school’s recycling scheme and has planned, negotiated and launched the aptly named ‘obLITTERate’ campaign.

The award ceremony was held at St Ives Corn Exchange on Saturday 4th June; local organisations, businesses and individuals from across the region were all recognised for their green credentials. Froglife’s National Science and Engineering Week exhibit was shortlisted in the Best Environmental Project category but lost out to Huntingdon in Bloom.

The whole Froglife team would like to say a big CONGRATULATIONS to Amy on her award! Keep up the good work!

Find out more about volunteering with Froglife here.

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Photos by Duane Hamlett

Green Pathways to London...

Froglife is looking for new partners to join an educational initiative made possible with BBC Children in Need funding.

Froglife's Green Pathways scheme works with a range of young people on conservation projects that benefit amphibians and reptiles in urban areas.

The scheme introduces young people –most of whom have no previous interest in the natural world – to amphibian and reptile conservation; offering skills, training and qualifications.

One output from the scheme has been a frog-friendly allotment which has become a demonstration site to encourage other allotment-holders to embrace amphibians and reptiles as a natural form of pest control.

Young people involved monitor the pond’s progress and take part in pond dipping activities, checking up on the pond’s inhabitants before each session.

To date, the Green Pathways Scheme has reached over 700 people within the Peterborough area – involving 19 partner schools and community groups.

After one year feedback has been positive:

“[This is a] fabulous idea for building self-esteem, self-confidence and providing opportunities to learn valuable life skills,” underlined one teacher from a participating Peterborough school.

“The scheme has been a great opportunity to allow young people to become actively involved in and enthused by wildlife projects they would not normally have access to,” said Natalie Giles, Froglife's Conservation Youth Worker.

Now Froglife is looking to bring Green Pathways to specified London boroughs:

“Due to the success of the project here in Peterborough, we are looking to expand its delivery into the London boroughs of Camden, Tower Hamlets and Hackney.” said Natalie.

“We would be really interested to hear from other organisations, specifically volunteer groups and schools, that have groups of young people that might appreciate opportunities for outdoor learning.”

To find out more about the Green Pathways Scheme...