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Female standing with awards

Young Environmental Champion – Gemma Hobbs

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Gemma Hobbs, 19, from Boldre, is an active Young Commoner and former Chair of Beaulieu Young Farmers Club. She supports several projects showing how commoning protects biodiversity and habitats, and is dedicated to protecting our landscape, supporting rural traditions, and inspiring others.

She uses social media to champion commoning and conservation to a following of more than 7,500. She also took part in the New Forest Young Content Creators scheme, receiving funding from the NPA to support her content creation and advocacy for the Forest and commoning, as part of the NPA-led Youth for Climate and Nature (YouCAN) scheme.

She has also been featured in international, national and local media, spoken on the New Forest Show Board to over 70 people, and worked with local businesses to promote the cycle to work scheme.

It’s not the first time Gemma has received an accolade in the New Forest National Park Awards. She was crowned Young Environmental Champion in 2024, and was Highly Commended in the Young Farmer category in 2025.

Gemma said: ‘I can’t believe it – three awards in three consecutive years. Winning the Young Environmental Champion award again is such an incredible honour and means so much to me.

‘I’m passionate about protecting and promoting the New Forest, so to have that work recognised for a third year is something I’m incredibly proud of, and it motivates me to keep making a positive difference.’

On being a New Forest Young Content Creator, she said: ‘Content creation allows me to combine my love for nature with creativity. I enjoy sharing real stories and information that can make a difference in how people interact with the Forest.’