Yesterday, at a glittering event at the BIC in Bournemouth as part of the Dorset Business Awards ceremony, the trophy for the first ever Best Dorset Environmental Business Award was awarded to Tops Day Nurseries. The joint sponsors of the award are Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) and Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC).
This is the first time this award has been presented and proved to be the second most popular category of 13 awards, attracting a wide range of companies and organisations.
Judges from DWT, PHC and Kingston Maurward College shortlisted 5 candidates who were visited and reviewed for their environmental performance. Of these, three finalists were chosen: Tops Day Nurseries, Neal’s Yard Remedies, and Upton Country Park based on their exemplary work to protect Dorset’s environment, for example by reducing plastics, engaging the public, protecting wildlife, or minimising impacts on climate change.
Head judge DWT Chief Executive Simon Cripps said, “This has been an exciting opportunity to raise the profile of nature and the environment with Dorset businesses at a time when environment is proving so important underpinning successful development in the county. The quality of entrants and the level of enthusiasm has been incredibly high. Many organisations could have won, but Tops Day Nurseries went the extra mile to protect the environment – from using bamboo toothbrushes, to eco-friendly nappy wipes, and nature exploration areas for the children to enjoy.”
Cheryl Hadland the Managing Director of Tops Day Nurseries said on winning the award, “It is wonderful to receive this recognition for all the hard work our managers and staff have done. We take great pride in our environmental performance, which though it is good for business, we do because our whole team is passionate about nature and the future for the children in our care.”
Find out more about Dorset Wildlife Trust at www.dorsetwildifetrust.org.uk or Tops Days Nurseries at www.topsdaynurseries.co.uk/.