We’re delighted to share that EPR has won the Best Practice – Small-scale Practical Nature Conservation category at the 2025 Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) awards!

The award recognises our long-term conservation work to restore and protect the nationally scarce Deptford Pink (𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢) within Chobham Common SSSI – a plant species once thought extinct in Surrey.

Through a carefully designed habitat management strategy, including scrub clearance, soil removal and rotational creation of bare ground, we’ve supported the return of this species – with over 100 plants recorded in 2024. This success has also helped bring the SSSI Unit into favourable condition and delivered wider biodiversity benefits, with over 80 plant species now recorded in the area.

Announced at Friday’s awards luncheon in London, the event brought together professionals and organisations delivering vital work across the ecology and environmental management sector. We’re proud to have this project recognised and to contribute to meaningful biodiversity outcomes, alongside other outstanding initiatives working to protect and restore nature.

Congratulations to all the finalists and winners! We had a great time celebrating the sector’s achievements, so many thanks to CIEEM for hosting the event: https://lnkd.in/eZfSz9-s