Sustainable Crediton were runners-up in the Prince of Wales Award which has been presented at the Devon County Show for over 30 years. The Award is open to community organisations, schools etc. which have, through their own initiative, brought about improvements to the lives of the rural population in a sustainable manner. The Award is intended to embrace a wide range of schemes where there has been a genuine attempt to move forward in a resourceful and inventive way to the benefit of a rural community.  The list of possible activities is far reaching but the key word is sustainable i.e. the initiative must be capable of being maintained for the future and is merely exploiting the natural resources within a community without destroying the ecological balance of the area.

Sustainable Crediton were judged on its last 12 months work. The judges were Professor Ian Mercer CBE, President of the Devon Wildlife Trust, Lady Arran MBE and Devon County Show Director David Parish. At the meeting with the judges Linda Lever spoke about our local produce website, our annual seed swap and the community markets. Charles Mossman talked about our Solar PV Project, the Warm Homes Project and the firewood from hedgerows group. Paula Mossman gave the judges an insight into plastic waste collection and clothes swapping. John Downes explained how Sustainable Crediton works with Mid Devon District Council and how we have influenced them into taken up renewable energy in a big way. John Skrine described our work with the Plough and Share Credit Union and how we have opened a branch in Crediton manned by Sustainable Crediton volunteers. Finally Gerald Conyngham talked about the seminars we have run in Crediton with Crediton Town and Mid Devon District Councils.

The judges asked many questions including how we would use the cash prize if we were successful. John Skrine answered that we intended to use the money in a campaign to reach groups of people that we haven't as yet been overly successful in reaching such as people on low incomes, the farming community and young people.

We were informed of the result of our meeting with the judges a few days later. Unfortunately we were not successful, but we were encouraged to enter again next year. The winners of the award were the Bickington Village Trust who will use the award to repair a stone wall separating their village hall from the main road in the village.

Charles Mossman who prepared Sustainable Crediton's application said " although it was disappointing not to win this year, we have noted that Bickington had applied unsuccessfully previously and the judges have encouraged us to enter again next year. So we shall keep up the hard work and see what next year brings."