In January we kicked off our search for inspirational people making a difference for the environment in one of the three categories: individuals, schools or youth groups and workplace. Backed by former England and Chelsea football star Graeme Le Saux, Hidden Heroes set out to celebrate the people making a difference and the positive actions they’re taking to help protect our brilliant planet.
The competition has now closed and the winning entry for each category selected by a judging panel. We’re delighted to reveal our heroes:
Category: Individuals
Winner: Pete Davies, Cardiff
Pete founded a campaign based on the idea that we need to do something about our excessive meat consumption in the UK. With the help of friends and volunteers ‘Part-Time Carnivore’ has grown into a small movement as many more people pledge to get involved across the country.
Category: School / youth groups
Winner: Mechteld Blake-Kalff, Ledbury
Metcheld has worked tirelessly to engage Pendock CofE Primary School (one of the UK’s solar schools) and local community in a project to install solar panels. As the driving force behind the effort, she led a committee to fund raise for renewable energy with events such as the community’s Solar Dance as well as getting the wider community and businesses involved.
Category: Workplace
Winner: Simon Jakeman, Surbiton
Simon is a firefighter who’s passion for the environment has made a big difference to his workplace. Through his efforts, from making the station more energy efficient to creating a roof garden with reclaimed planters to provide seasonal fruit and veg for crews, he has succeeded in making Surbiton Fire Station London’s greenest fire station as well as raising awareness locally.
We’d like to thank you for all your entries, we received so many inspirational nominations from across the UK – here are just a few of the runners-up:
Never Too Early to Start
Eleisha Holleron from Prenton was one of the youngest nominees. This nine year old eco-champion not only launched an initiative to raise money for the mountain gorillas of Central Africa but also motivated fellow students to cut down on their electricity consumption to save the polar bears in the Arctic. She is now taking her campaign out of the classroom and into her neighbourhood.
Friends Forever
Grace Onions from Waddon works tirelessly in support of many environmental causes: as well as organising on-street recycling long before household collections, Grace is an active member of Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth and has organised the Croydon Real Nappy Network, encouraging mums to use cloth nappies.
Hogan knows best
Following his mother’s inspirational path, Jamie Hogan has a keen interest in protecting the world’s endangered species. As a member of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which works to protect marine life, he often picks up debris on beaches to prevent it from harming sea life. He has also adopted a number of endangered animals, carries out fundraising for wildlife and is a supporter of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
