New Year Honours: Sheffield tree campaigner Liz Ballard awarded MBE in New Year's honours
Former Sheffield wildlife charity leader Liz Ballard, who was involved in work to save trees in Sheffield, has been awarded the MBE for services to the environment
Liz who worked as chief executive of Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, was honoured in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the environment.
She joined Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust in 2012, working there for 13 years.
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She said: “I’m humbled to be awarded this honour and would like to thank everyone who supported me throughout my career in the environment sector, especially at Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust.”
During her time as chief executive, Liz set up and led many of the initiatives that now underpin nature’s recovery across South Yorkshire.
She established and led the Sheffield Street Tree Partnership, in response to the need to resolve the city’s highly controversial street tree management programme, and campaigned to save Smithy Wood, an area of ancient woodland in danger of destruction from a proposed motorway service station.
She led the fundraising campaign to transform Ughill Farm, near Bradfield, into a ‘test and learn’ site for nature-friendly farming, raising £1.2m in a single year to secure the purchase of the site.
Ed Tripp, the current chief executive of Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, said: “Liz’s commitment and determination to raise awareness and engage people through local empowerment and education is clear.
“She nurtured a brilliant learning and communities team at the Trust, who have influenced thousands of people of all ages across Sheffield and Rotherham to take significant action for nature.”