MARWELL Zoo has become one of the last recipients of the Queen's Award for Enterprise, as presented by a gardening TV star.
Alan Titchmarsh visited the Hampshire zoo to formally present the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in sustainable development.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II recognised Marwell Wildlife’s achievements in biodiversity conservation, education and sustainability, as part of the awards which were announced on her birthday on April 21.
The presentation was due to take place in September but was postponed due to the period of mourning following the Queen’s death.
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Mr Titchmarsh attended as Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire, along with fellow Deputy Lieutenant Simon Tufnell on Tuesday, March 14.
Presenting the award, the celebrity gardener said: “There has been a delay in this presentation, which in a way is all the more poignant since the death of Her Majesty The Queen and you will be one of the last recipients of The Queens Award for Enterprise, which in a way makes it that much more special.
“Over many years Marwell has demonstrated its dedication to sustainability and to conservation, two aspects of our lives which have been regarded as of prime importance in the current climate, which is something of a complex scenario at the moment.
“The need to cherish and sustain all aspects of the natural world is something very close to my heart. The world begins at our front door and the first steps into it take us, I hope, into the garden, the microcosm of nature that’s so often overlooked and underrated while we worry about the global picture.
“It’s such a shame that we use such big and unwieldy words to describe something that’s as basic as looking after the earth and the tiny part of it that is our own responsibility.
“Marwell understands that and knows the rewards of playing a part in contributing to a vibrant future for our planet, our country, our county, and the patch of it that Marwell occupies.”
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The award citation made particular reference to the charity’s work reintroducing scimitar-horned oryx, which had previously been classified as extinct in the wild, to its natural range in Tunisia.
As well as work harnessing energy from zoo poo to power the heating systems in the venue’s largest buildings, an initiative that helped the zoo achieve carbon-negative status.
Chief executive, James Cretney, said: “While we are all thrilled at receiving this award and the recognition it brings to Marwell’s conservation work, we were naturally delighted that someone so inspiring, with such a love and deep knowledge of nature such as Alan, was able to officially grant us the award.”
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