The Friends of Queen Elizabeth Park in Grantham have been named winners of this year's Lincolnshire Environmental Award.

Their success is being credited to the army of volunteers who work in partnership with the park's owners, South Kesteven District Council, to create a space for wildlife and people in Grantham.

Until recently, grassy areas of this popular park were regularly mown and provided little habitat or food for wildlife. But a group of local residents took action. They formed the Friends of Queen Elizabeth Park Group and with SKDC, changed the management regime to benefit wildlife and people.

Thanks to this partnership, 1.5 hectares is now cut for hay annually and other, smaller areas are under community volunteer management. As part of this restorative work, they have been using hand tools including scythes. The funding from the Award will go towards brush-cutters, PPE, accessories and training necessary. This will enable the volunteers to manage more areas for wildflowers and the associated pollinators and other wildlife.

Tim Metcalfe-Kemp, chair of the Friends of Queen Elizabeth Park said: "The Lincolnshire Environmental Award will give the Friends of Queen Elizabeth Park a great boost in developing larger areas of wildflower meadows and habitat within the park setting.

"We hope that wildlife and the wider community can enjoy this ongoing and developing project over the coming years as more areas are improved.

"Our sincere thanks go to Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, the Rotary Club of Lindum, Lincoln, and to sponsors for the award as it will benefit our group at a grass roots level."

The next aim is to secure coveted Green Flag status for the park, which is a strip of the River Witham floodplain which runs through Grantham.

Queen Elizabeth Park is less formal than Dysart Park and neighbouring Wyndham Park, its 25-acres including a fishing lake, commemorative grove of trees and a playground with a zip-line.

Recent improvement work at Queen Elizabeth Park includes:

Creation of a meadows

Replacing litter bins and seats

Installation of picnic tables, interpretation signs and a flag pole

Completion of ecological studies to better understand site biodiversity

Engagement with the local community

Upgrading the park website to include learning materials

Developing a nature trail and visitor guide

Developing a site management plan to support the bid for a Green Flag award

The Lincolnshire Environmental Award 2021 is sponsored by FCC Environment, Lincolnshire Co-op, Maher Millard Construction Ltd and Streets Chartered Accountants.

The winning community group was announced at an event held at The Natural World Centre, Whisby Nature Park which bought together three inspiring community group finalists.

Lincolnshire Environmental Award 2021 runners-up:

Sincil Bank Regeneration, Lincoln

Sincil Bank is a compact area of late nineteenth century terraced housing in 'Downhill Lincoln'. In January 2019, funding was obtained to re-open a tiny former children's playground that had been locked for fifteen years after the equipment had been wrecked and then removed.

Tongue End Playing Field, nr Bourne

Residents, neighbouring farmers and organisations including the Welland Rivers Trust and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust have been involved in the plan to create a diverse community space with a cutting plan for grassland areas, a small orchard, hedgerow and pond.

The Lincolnshire Environmental Awards are organised by the Rotary Club of Lindum, Lincoln and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. The awards are sponsored by FCC Environment, Lincolnshire Co-op, Maher Millard Construction Ltd and Streets Chartered Accountants