Voting now open for Volunteer of the Year in our Park Protector Awards 2022

We are delighted to reveal the five finalists in this year's Park Protector Awards Volunteer of the Year category - now we need your help to select a winner.

"Every National Park relies on volunteers to not only keep things running smoothly, but to ramp up efforts to deliver more for people, nature and climate - the theme of this year's Park Protector Awards," explained Campaign for National Parks’ Chief Executive Dr Rose O’Neill.

"We want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of those volunteers, and are delighted to be able to showcase the following five, which demonstrate the dedication, commitment and breadth of work carried out by volunteers." 

The shortlisted volunteers are:

• Tony Evans for his work sharing an untold story of the people who lived and worked in Northumberland National Park in the late 19th century.
• Chris Maloney for his engagement work with bikers and others in Peak District National Park through his Keeper of the Peak Twitter account. 
• Bob Slater for his dedication in leading volunteers in delivering work to protect and improve North York Moors National Park.
• Rachel Thomas for her exemplary work as Chair of The Exmoor Society, connecting people with Exmoor National Park through a brilliant walks programme.
• Jack Walmsley for playing a key role in the Care for Snowdonia team, helping Snowdonia National Park cope with a post-lockdown influx of visitors.

Voting opened today and will close on 30 June 2022. The overall winner will receive a £500 Original Cottages holiday voucher and a one-year subscription to BBC Countryfile Magazine at a ceremony at the Houses of Parliament on 11 July 2022 – alongside the winner of the main Park Protector Award and a New Perspectives Award, both being decided by an expert judging panel.

To learn more about the volunteers and their work, and to cast your vote, see here.