International Green Apple for Northey Island Project

12-12-2023

Northey Island Project, Essex, which has rejuvenated threatened habitats and promotes biodiversity, has won an International Green Apple Environment Award in the campaign to find the greenest companies.

RHDHV colleagues accepting the International Green Apple award

Royal HaskoningDHV, along with the project team and client, the National Trust, has secured an International Green Apple Award for the Northey Island project. The scheme competed against more than 800 other nominations in the International Green Apple Awards, and the team was presented with a trophy and certificate at a glittering ceremony in the Houses of Parliament, London, on 20 November.

Speaking of the award Royal HaskoningDHV’s Technical Director, Nick Cooper, said: “We are so delighted that the project has been recognised for its lasting impact on biodiversity and habitat protection.”

The judges said of their project:

“Royal HaskoningDHV aimed to bolster fragile saltmarsh ecosystems against climate change and sea level rise on Northey Island in Essex. It employs innovative strategies like sediment reuse and 'managed realignment' to restore and diversify these habitats, ensuring sustainability and wildlife protection. Thriving vegetation and diverse bird and animal life indicating its success.”

Amongst the other methods and strategies, the project included the translocation of a colony of water voles to a purpose-built pond, new freshwater ponds to support bird and invertebrate diversity and the removal of overhead cables to protect avian flight lines.

Nick CooperTechnical Director

The award entitles the team to represent their country at the Green World Environment Awards that are held in a different country every year.

The Green Apple Awards are run by The Green Organisation - an international, independent, non-profit, non-political environment group that began in 1994 to recognise, reward and promote environmental best practice around the world.

The Northey Island project also won the Constructing Excellence Awards Civils Project of the Year for the East of England and was named BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards Overall Winner.