The news came to me by email earlier this year:

‘The judges were impressed with your personal touch, community feel and passion for what you do. It’s extra rewarding to know the hard work and positivity is paying off and I hope this achievement brings more success‘.

The South West England award winners were all invited to a celebration event in Highbullen Hotel Golf & Country Club. Photographs were taken, drinks were poured and the option of a video acceptance speech was also offered – which I declined.

It was interesting to meet some of the other award winners; all sorts of businesses were represented, from hair salons and beauticians to a Chinese restaurant and a team who convert Landrovers. I was awarded the title of Wildlife Specialist of the Year 2022, which isn’t quite what I do at all but I am still happy to accept the recognition. Not bad for a venture I only started on in late 2015, actually 7 years this school half term – my opening event was a Fun with Feathers family morning, in a yurt and with Peanut playing host of course.

The Prestige team were very fun, one of the team even came from St Austell, only 6 miles from Fowey, so he was delighted ‘someone local’ won an award this year!

I did leap at the chance of having more photographs taken with Graci and special effect backgrounds. These were great fun to do, all in front of a green cloth with only a postcard sized image to see what the background was going to be! Graci loved it, I’m sure!