By Press Release
The Isle of Wight Council has congratulated Arc Biodiversity and Climate and Artecology following their success at the BIG Biodiversity Awards last week.
The awards, organised by CIRIA – the Construction Industry Research and Information Association – showcase biodiversity enhancements in construction and the built environment.
Island organisations Arc and Artecology, with their corporate partner LaSalle Investment Management, won a hat-trick of awards including the Community Engagement Award for the Wild Glades project in Bromley, which included the revitalisation of a green roof, a pop-up natural museum and an on-line biodiversity festival which went on to be crowned the overall winner. They also won the Habitat Creation Award (with Bournemouth University) for a research project on habitat creation on man-made coastal structures. It included work at Bouldnor on Artecology’s cement-cast artificial rockpools, known as Vertipools.
IW Council’s cabinet lead for regeneration, Cllr Julie Jones-Evans, congratulated the winners. She said: “Arc and Artecology are doing great work to promote biodiversity and the Biosphere. These awards are testament to their passion and hard work in ensuring that biodiversity becomes an integral part of planning and development projects. We are currently working with them on the innovative Branstone ‘eco-hamlet’, which will see a trail-blazing housing, commercial, ecological and tourism scheme, including a purpose-built biosphere centre on site.”
Speaking on behalf of Arc and Artecology, director, Claire Hector, said: “It was wonderful seeing our partners and projects recognised.
“These projects are in fact beacons for our bigger picture. Our aim for LaSalle, for example, has been to show how a major company can move beyond compliance and into positive social and ecological impact for the environment it owns and manages.
“We believe that the Isle of Wight Biosphere’s know how and our demonstrable, imaginative work for wildlife and community, can create both local impact and support global change. We’re pleased to be working with the Isle of Wight Council on this.”
Councillor Jonathan Bacon, cabinet lead for the environment, added: “Arc Consulting and Artecology have a proven track record making sure the environment is at the heart of everything they do. Their expertise demonstrates how we can work hand-in-hand with the Island’s wildlife and our community. I wish them even more success in the future.”
Isle of Wight Observer