The Purple Horizons project is one of five Natural England Nature Recovery pilot projects. It covers an important area of lowland Heathland which spans Walsall and Lichfield local authorities. The project connects an existing Special Area of Conservation with a Natural Nature Reserve, and seeks to restore and enhance the habitat to facilitate the movement of wildlife across a much greater area. It utilises partnerships with multiple landowners and community groups to re-establish the value of this important habitat.

Our judges though this was a “very interesting project”, and that we should “celebrate” the use of expertise in their approach. It was noted too that this is the “starting phase of a complex project”, the scale of which is “ambitious … one to watch”.