Environmental Competitions

• Environmental Challenge
• Bexley In Bloom

Contact Details

• Mark Taylor:
  020 8294 6558
• Jan Williams: 020 8294 6551
• mark.taylor@ bexley.gov.uk
• jan.williams@ bexley.gov.uk

The Bexley Environmental Challenge

Rise to the Challenge

Are you doing your bit for the environment? Have you, your group or school been working to improve the local environment or to raise awareness of environmental and sustainable development issues in Bexley? If you have, you could enter your project into the Bexley Environmental Challenge competition!

An original idea by Councillor Mrs Jean Antenbring led to the establishment of the Environmental Challenge in 1992.

The aims of the Competition are:

• To reward and promote the work that schools, youth groups and community groups are doing in Bexley to improve the local environment.

• By promoting the work of others it is hoped to encourage more people (particularly the young) to learn more about their local environment and take action to care and improve it.

Judging and Awards

• The Judging Panel - consisting of Members of the Council and Council officers - visits a large number of the projects in June/July.

• All entrants will be invited to the prestigious awards evening at the Civic Offices in November.

• All entrants receive a framed certificate presented by the Worshipful the Mayor of Bexley, in recognition of their work.

• Winners of age groups, categories and the overall winners receive cash and trophy prizes, presented by the Mayor of Bexley.

Entries are invited to four age groups:

• under 8s
• 8 - 11 year olds
• 12 - 18 year olds
• over 18s

within six categories:

		Recycling Public involvement in recycling schemes
		Nature Conservation Creation or management of a wildlife area
		General Environmental Activities Cleaning up and improving a public site or area
		Air and Water Cleaning up ponds, streams or rivers and conserving water or energy
		Education Any project demonstrating an environmental awareness

Clyde Pugh Award To acknowledge the commitment and hard work of an individual young or old in the community who has been an environmental champion.

Green Household Any household demonstrating commitment to reducing their environmental impact and encouraging others to do their bit!

We also have a separate competition for businesses: Bexley Business Environmental Challenge Work carried out by businesses to improve their environmental performance and/or surroundings

Entries can win prizes up to the value of £900 and Bexley's Environmental Challenge Cup. Many schools, youth clubs, Guide and Scout Associations, adult community groups and businesses are already involved in projects ranging from recycling to nature conservation. So if you are involved in a project or are thinking of starting one, then consider entering the Bexley Environmental Challenge!

If you think you can rise to Bexley's Environmental Challenge contact Mark Taylor on 020 8294 6558, email mark.taylor@bexley.gov.uk, or simply download and print out the entry form (PDF, 619kB) and send it in! The closing date for entries is 30th April each year. So if you have missed this year's event start thinking about next year's!

Bexley Council would like to thank the local businesses and organisations who support the Bexley Environmental Challenge by providing the prizes.

Rules and Regulations

1. The competition is open to any individual, group, association or business based or operating in Bexley Borough, or any group of which a substantial number of members live in Bexley Borough.
2. The Bexley Environmental Challenge is divided into seven categories and five are sub-divided into four age groups, under 8, 8-11, 12-18 and over 18.
3. The Bexley Business Environmental Challenge is only open to businesses.
4. Certificates will be awarded to everyone who enters.
5. A trophy will be awarded for each category. The overall winners will receive the 'Bexley Environmental Challenge Cup' or the 'Bexley Business Environmental Challenge Trophy', donated by Mrs. Jean Antenbring. The runner-up of the Environmental Challenge will receive a trophy donated by the then Councillor Richard Lucas. There are three special trophies, The Community Award, The Special Achievement Award and the William Morris award. Trophies will be held for twelve months but must be returned to the Council upon request. The 'Jeannie' awards, may be retained by winners.
6. A £50.00 cash prize is given to the winner of each age group, within the first five categories. The winner of five categaries receive an additional £150.00 and the overall winner (the best project selected from the five category winners) receives a further £600.00.
7. Prizes will be awarded to those entries which demonstrate the most creative and effective environmental project or initiatives having regard to the budget available. Photographic material and project plans or notes should be submitted with the application.
8. Each entry must be submitted on the official entry form, only one project and category per form. A project must be either complete or substantially underway so that it can be effectively judged. In each case the entrant should be able to demonstrate the benefits to the local environment.
9. Each entry must be supported by a brief written statement describing the project in more detail
   and should include:
   • the objective of the project.
   • the funding of the project.
   • how the project benefits the local environment both in the short term and the long term.
   • how the local community is involved in the project.
10. Where it is not possible to visit all entries photographic and other supporting material will be used to draw up a short list. Shortlisted projects will be visited in June and July.
11. The decision of the judges will be final and binding. A presentation of Awards Evening will be held during the autumn in the Council Chamber, Bexley Civic Offices.
12. Bexley Council shall not under any circumstances be liable for any loss, damage or injury caused by or arising out of the carrying out of any project submitted as an entry to this competition.