Celebrating rural champions: Nominations open for the 2025 New Forest National Park Awards
PUBLISHED ON: 7 MAY 2025The New Forest National Park Authority and the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) have launched their annual awards, celebrating the remarkable individuals and organisations making a difference across the Forest.
The New Forest National Park Awards, now in their 12th year, recognise outstanding contributions to the environment, rural economy and local communities in and around the National Park.
Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony and drinks reception at the New Forest and Hampshire County Show on 30 July. The event is supported by Moore Barlow and the New Forest Agricultural Show Society.
This year, as the New Forest National Park marks its 20th anniversary, a new award – Commoning Champion – has been introduced to recognise individuals playing a vital role in sustaining this unique practice which helps maintain the Forest’s landscape and biodiversity.
Nominations are now open for the following categories:
- Sustainability Champion
- Young Farmer (aged 35 and under)
- Best Supporter of Local Produce
- Young Environmental Champion (aged 25 and under)
- Farming and Nature Champion
- Commoning Champion (new for 2025)
Individuals, businesses and organisations can nominate themselves or be nominated by others. All nominees must live, work or operate within the New Forest Awards area. Nominations close on Sunday 8 June 2025. Full criteria and application forms are available at www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/newforestawards.
Alison Barnes, Chief Executive of the New Forest National Park Authority, said: ‘As we mark 20 years of the National Park, it’s a perfect time to celebrate the dedicated people who shape and support this extraordinary place.
‘We’re always proud to host these awards which are our way of recognising those who go above and beyond for the New Forest, its unique nature, rural communities and its future.’
Tim Bamford, Regional Director of CLA South East said: ‘It’s been 12 years since we helped launch these awards and, in that time, more than 100 of the Forest’s most innovative, dynamic individuals and rural businesses have been recognised and celebrated.
‘It has become an important annual celebration of the New Forest’s vibrant rural economy, and the CLA is pleased once again to be honouring those who go above and beyond.’
Nominate at www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/newforestawards.
-Ends-
About the CLA South East
The CLA South East has around 5,000 members across Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
As a membership organisation, the CLA supports landowners by advising them on how best to protect and maximise their asset: the land. We are dedicated to supporting landowners and their businesses. Our success is measured by how effectively we do that. We have a team of experts in London and professional advisers based regionally to give support to members.
We have been looking after the interests of our members, as well as promoting the positive aspects of land ownership, land management and rural business activities for the past 112 years. CLA members own or manage approximately half the rural land in England and Wales, and the resulting expertise puts us in a unique position to formulate policies and lobby effectively.
For more information visit https://www.cla.org.uk/in-your-area/south-east/ or follow @CLASouthEast on X.
