IS there an unsung green hero in the community worthy of a coveted award?

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the UK’s biggest environmental awards, the People Environment Achievement Awards (PEA), co-founded by Broughton Hall Estate resident Jarvis Smith, is asking the public to nominate their ‘Eco-hero of the Decade’ for special recognition.

Anyone can vote for the person or team of people, both nationally or internationally, who they consider has done the most since 2010 to move us closer towards a sustainable world.

And that nomination can be for someone from the district which has a number groups campaigning to create awareness of climate change and other green issues.

Mr Smith, who left a career in advertising and the world of music to play his part in making a greener world after living on a landfill site for three weeks said: “I was one of 11 people who took on Channel 4’s challenge to live on a landfill site using only what we found amongst the rubbish to build shelters, cooking facilities, and somewhere to shower. The result was a programme called ‘Dumped’ in 2007.

He continued “I was shocked to the core by the amount of rubbish we, as a society, were throwing away. I decided then and there to play my part in stopping this madness and help people live a greener life. I left my successful, well-paid jobs and set up a magazine and website where people can find green, ethical alternatives to mainstream products and services, which I now run with my wife, Katie Hill.”

He added that a panel of leading environmental figures will judge the award, and its presentation will be at a special ‘green-carpet’ online ceremony on November 20.

Jarvis and Katie moved to the Broughton Hall Estate after her father’s death during lockdown. Katie’s mother lives in Yorkshire and they didn’t want to be too far away from her.

A business friend knew Roger Tempest, owner of Broughton Hall Estate, and introduced them. Within a month they had packed up and left their home in Lewes for North Yorkshire.

The annual awards, sponsored by Citrix, were set up in 2010 and past recipients include Julia Davenport who founded UK renewable energy supply company, Good Energy; Cat Fletcher who started Freegle, the international free recycling website; Mike Barry of Marks & Spencer who drove the company’s Plan A campaign; and sisters Theresa Walton and Mary Strong, whose challenge to produce the least plastic waste in a year, won the Greenest Family award.

The closing date for nominations is October 23 via the P.E.A. Awards website at: https://www.peaawards.com/

The past ten years in the sustainability movement has been a time of great change: Caroline Lucas became the UK’s 1st Green Party MP, the Nissan LEAF, the world’s first mass-produced electric car, was launched.

2010 was the UN’s Year of Biodiversity culminating in 193 nations signing the Convention on Biological Diversity to protect the world’s wildlife, considered a landmark agreement by conservationists.

2010 was the hottest year on record worldwide.

The closing date for nominations is October 23 via the P.E.A. Awards website at: https://www.peaawards.com/