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Guildford Borough Council celebrates award for rare plant conservation

Guildford Borough Council celebrates award for rare plant conservation

Guildford Borough Council’s Parks and Countryside Services team have received an award recognising decades of successful conservation work at Lakeside Nature Reserve.

The award, presented by the Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust, celebrates the team’s outstanding management of Gingerbread Sedge. This is a rare plant only found in a small number of locations in Surrey and Hampshire.

Thanks to careful stewardship, the population of Gingerbread Sedge at Lakeside has increased ten-fold in the past 30 years.

Gingerbread Sedge is one of more than 400 plant species thriving at the reserve, reflecting the site’s importance for local biodiversity.

Cllr Angela Goodwin, Lead Councillor for Environment and Sustainability at Guildford Borough Council, said:

“This award is a real testament to the passion and perseverance of our Parks and Countryside team. For decades they’ve worked quietly, skilfully and often in challenging conditions to protect the rare and remarkable wildlife that makes places like Lakeside so special.

“Seeing the Gingerbread Sedge make such an extraordinary recovery isn’t just a botanical success, it’s a story of commitment, teamwork and genuine care for our natural heritage.

“Their dedication means future generations will be able to enjoy thriving wetland habitats and experience the same sense of wonder that residents and visitors feel today. I’m incredibly proud of what has been achieved at Lakeside and delighted that this long-term effort is being recognised.”

Maintaining the right conditions for rare plants and wildlife is a vital part of the Council’s work across wetland habitats, including designated Local Nature Reserves, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI).

Key to this success is a combination of:

  • Targeted grazing to manage vegetation naturally
  • Partnership working with environmental organisations
  • Specialist ecological expertise and equipment
  • Collaborative species recovery projects, including the reintroduction of water voles

These long-term conservation practices ensure that wetland habitats remain healthy, diverse and resilient.

Find out more about Lakeside Nature Reserve and how to visit on the Council’s website.


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Press contact: Steven Toplis – e-mail Steven.Toplis@guildford.gov.uk