The Bittern Award for 2021, which recognises outstanding contributions to the AONB, goes to the Back on our Map (BOOM) Project for their work to restore native species within the AONB.

AONB manager, Lucy Barron, said the Bittern Award was given in gratitude of incredible contributions by the BOOM team and its band of volunteers, whose care and vision would leave a lasting legacy to the area. She explained: “At a time of biodiversity crisis, BOOM has given us inspirational nature enhancement with such positive impacts. Huge importance is placed on community and involves people from a variety of backgrounds. As well as dormouse reintroductions, we have benefitted from other work to bring back rare and threatened species to our area.”

BOOM’s far-reaching four-year reintroduction programme extends to 10 different kinds of endangered flora and fauna across South Cumbria, with Morecambe Bay Partnership overseeing volunteers.

The 2021 multi-agency dormouse project has seen successful breeding in the Silverdale area, according to BOOM manager, Jo Sayers, who said it was testimony to all those who had worked hard to bring ‘a bright light in tough times’. She added: “This simply could not have been done without our amazing volunteers, who have literally put in thousands of hours to make it work.”

The AONB is also playing host to BOOM’s green-winged orchids, laboratory-cultivated by Kew Gardens and now carefully watched over by Natural England and National Trust staff.

You can find out more about the BOOM Project on their facebook page.

Thank you and congratulations to the BOOM Team!