WINNER: Freely Fruity sponsored by Tomato Energy
The organisation aims to make fresh and healthy produce freely available to all by working with other organisations to create community orchards, rearing fruit trees in their own nursery.
They also promote sustainable growing practices and publicise the effects of intensive farming on the environment and on food production.
Organisers Matthew Knight and Ryan Simpson attended to collect the award, with Mr Simpson saying: “For us, we don’t so it for the awards, of course – we do what we do for the community and the environment.
“This will, however, really enable us to put out a much bigger message, so it’s huge news for us – it leads to more followers and hopefully more sponsors, too.
“While we’re currently focused in Berkshire, we want to take this idea nationally, so we really hope this will help us grow.
Mr Knight explained: “This time last year the award didn’t exist, so I wrote to the Pride of Reading Awards and said that a category like the Green Community Award would be great – I really didn’t expect that we would be winning it.
“We have so many people around Reading doing amazing stuff for the environment, and we’re really pleased that they’re recognising the environmental issues that we face.”
Speaking of attending the event itself, Mr Simpson explained: “It was very humbling to be a part of.
“There are so many people and causes in that room who do incredibly meaningful things– eating and the environment are obviously important, but we were sat among real legends who give up their time, their energy, just like our volunteers do, to help others.
“So we want to be able to do the same and inspire others with our work, just as the other nominees and winners do.”
They also announced that Dexter Rosier, previous award winner, would be leading Freely Fruity’s youth arm as their
Youth Ambassador.
Mr Simpson said: “Events like these are not only great for recognising the work that people do for others, but for helping us tie in with other organisations and work with them to do more.
“And those collaborations are really key for helping us do more to make Reading, and Berkshire, a better place.”
