Political Purpose Awards

The Political Purpose Awards

The 2026 Political Purpose Awards

The Political Purpose Awards are the leading UK awards recognising politicians, councils and campaigners who put nature, wildlife and the environment at the heart of public life. Run by Nature 2030, they were presented for the fourth time on 8 September 2026.

We are delighted to announce this year's winners across ten categories, presented at a ceremony in the House of Commons hosted by Ruth Jones MP. For 2026 we introduced new awards, including the Companion Animal Care Award, the Planning for Nature Recovery Award and the Campaigner of the Year Award, recognising grassroots campaigners alongside MPs and policymakers for the first time.

This year's winners were selected by an esteemed panel of campaigners, NGO leaders and business representatives who are deeply involved in environmental causes.

This year's winners are:

Jim Dickson MP – Wildlife Crime Prevention Award
Charlie Maynard MP – Rivers & Seas Award
Jane Dodds MS – Animal Welfare Award
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames – Green Council of the Year Award
The London Borough of Sutton – Planning for Nature Recovery Award
Andrew Muir MLA – Pollution, Waste & Air Award
Sarah Owen MP – Companion Animal Care Award
Hannah Bourne-Taylor – Campaigner of the Year Award
Lisa Boulton – Nature & Biodiversity Award
Lord Whitehead – Lifetime Achievement Award

We would like to thank our headline sponsors, Animal Friends Insurance and Peter Hall, as well as our individual award sponsors: League Against Cruel Sports, River Action UK, Four Paws UK, Keep Britain Tidy, London Wildlife Trust, Pet Impact, Bright Tide and Greenpeace UK.

The full shortlist for the 2026 Political Purpose Awards can be found here.

2026 Political Purpose Awards Winners

Wildlife Crime Prevention Award – sponsored by League Against Cruel Sports

Jim Dickson MP won the Wildlife Crime Prevention Award

The shortlist also included Lord Zac Goldsmith, Neil Duncan-Jordan MP and Baroness Hayman of Ullock.

Rivers & Seas Award – sponsored by River Action UK

Charlie Maynard MP won the Rivers & Seas Award

The shortlist also included Lloyd Hatton MP, Terry Jermy MP, and Edward Morello MP.

Animal Welfare Award – sponsored by Four Paws UK

Jane Dodds MS won the Animal Welfare Award

Adrian Ramsay MP won the Highly Commended Prize

The shortlist also included Aphra Brandreth MP, Zack Polanski and Baroness Hayman of Ullock.

Green Council of the Year Award – sponsored by Keep Britain Tidy

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames won the Green Council of the Year Award

Hull City Council won the Highly Commended Prize

The shortlist also included Newark and Sherwood Council, City of London Corporation and Blackpool Council/Enveco NW.

Planning for Nature Recovery Award – sponsored by London Wildlife Trust

The London Borough of Sutton won the Planning for Nature Recovery Award

The shortlist also included Dorset Council, Mid Suffolk District Council, East Suffolk Council and Forest of Dean District Council.

Pollution, Waste & Air Award – sponsored by Pet Impact

Andrew Muir MLA won the Pollution, Waste & Air Award

The shortlist also included Sian Berry MP, Fleur Anderson MP, Steve Rotheram, and Helena Dollimore MP.

Companion Animal Care Award – sponsored by Animal Friends

Sarah Owen MP won the Companion Animal Care Award

Danny Chambers MP won the Highly Commended Prize

The shortlist also included Irene Campbell MP, Hannah Spencer MP and Cat Eccles MP.

Campaigner of the Year Award – sponsored by Peter Hall

Hannah Bourne-Taylor won the Campaigner of the Year Award

Zofia Page won the Highly Commended Prize

The shortlist also included Rob Pownall and Feargal Sharkey.

Nature & Biodiversity Award – sponsored by Bright Tide

Lisa Boulton won the Nature & Biodiversity Award

Fenella Chambers won the Highly Commended Prize

The shortlist also included Sarah Champion MP, Lord Teverson and Dr Michael Dixon.

Lifetime Achievement Award – sponsored by Greenpeace UK

Lord Whitehead won the Lifetime Achievement Award

The shortlist also included Ed Miliband MP, Lord Sharma and Baroness Bennett.