The Brough Naturalist Award has been established in memory of Dr Peter Brough who was a GP as well as an avid botanist and naturalist with deep connections to the Trust over many decades.

The award recognises and supports amateur naturalists wishing to explore and share the wonders of the natural world in greater depths. Each year the award winner will receive up to £500 to support a citizen science or research project they wish to undertake in Hampshire and or the Isle of Wight.

This year we have awarded the Brough Award to two people, both currently at the University of Southampton.

James is a Masters student at the University of Southampton and in collaboration with Marwell Wildlife, will be using the award towards his project looking at how the soil composition of degraded UK lowland heaths will be altered under proposed plans of rewetting.  It will show what changes may occur to levels of carbon sequestration as well as how changes in pH and elemental composition may influence recolonisation by critically endangered bog flora and fauna.

Oliver is in his final year at the University of Southampton studying for a BSc in Zoology.  His project will look at the impact of airport noise on bird populations, and whether the size of the airport makes a difference to the effect.  It will look at the effect of airport noise on the diversity and vocality of song birds, using factors such as bird diversity, volume of the morning chorus and time the morning chorus occurs to determine how much of an effect an airport has on these.

The Trust is able to support the winners through enabling them to access the knowledge and experience of staff to help them deliver their projects, and to promote and disseminate their findings.  The Brough Award enables the Trust to encourage and develop skills of young naturalists early in their careers, giving them the boost and support they need to gain important skills for developing their future skills in nature and conservation.