Vice-chairman Jean Macdonald said the society wanted to encourage entries for projects that supported its aims to protect, increase, enhance and champion common land, town and village greens, open spaces and public rights and people’s right to enjoy them.
"The project might be the creation of a new open space or right of way, or one which has been rescued from destruction. Perhaps you have tidied up your local space and improved it for public enjoyment. We are looking for good stories."
Anyone can nominate a project and the closing date is 28 February 2013. Entries will be considered by a national panel of judges and shortlisted applicants will receive a site visit. Awards will be made at the society’s AGM in Birmingham in July.
Winner of last year’s inaugural; award was Bishop’s Meadow Trust, Farnham in Surrey for saving a 12ha meadow for the public. Runner-up was Our Green Space in Cumbria, a project which enabled five communities to improve their green spaces and make better use of them.
A personal commendation was given to Jade Smith of Royd Regeneration for her work in redesigning and refurbishing Mytholmroyd’s formerly run-down memorial garden as a public open space in West Yorkshire.
For entry details visit http://www.oss.org.uk/open-space-award-2013/.
