A national award will celebrate the educators inspiring young people and encouraging the UK to go green

Nominations are open for Chester Zoo’s National Education Awards until May 17th, and the zoo’s Conservation Education & Engagement team is urging teachers and educators from across the UK to get involved.

The awards, which highlight the education heroes, eco-focused schools and initiatives inspiring young conservationists, are now in their fifth year, and a new category has been added for 2026.

Naiara Dunn, Assistant Team Manager - Schools Engagement at Chester Zoo, said:

“We know schools across the UK do amazing conservation work. Some have created wildflower gardens, protected wildlife friendly habitats, transformed their school into rainforests to educate and held family tree-planting days that involved the whole community.

“This often involves teachers doing extra work outside the curriculum. They are motivated to do this because the children they teach are so passionate, and we don’t think this gets the recognition it deserves.”

Entry to the awards is free, and educators, schools, colleges and youth-focused green initiatives across the country are eligible for nomination.  

This year sees the introduction of a new category, the Outstanding Conservation Education Partnership Award, which celebrates organisations that work collaboratively with schools to inspire young people, empower teachers, engage communities, and deliver high quality conservation learning.

Nominators can also put themselves or others forward for the Outstanding Conservation Educator Award for people who bring conservation learning to life in innovative and inspiring ways, nominate an Outstanding Conservation School, or highlight an Outstanding Conservation Initiative.

Sean Dick, Senior Conservation Education Manager for the zoo, said:

“We hope that by offering recognition of amazing conservation advocates and the work they do, we can inspire other people to get involved in green education.

“The finalists are invited to an awards ceremony held at the zoo. It’s a lovely evening which highlights the dedication of teachers, educators and the young people whom they encourage, and who encourage them in return. That passion for conservation must be celebrated to ensure the next generation of conservationists feel empowered to make a difference.”

To nominate a school, teaching team, partnership or initiative, visit: 

www.chesterzoo.org/NCEA2026

Chester Zoo is a world-leading non-profit organisation run as a charitable educational, conservation and scientific institution. It began as a family run zoo and has grown into a globally renowned wildlife charity and a national zoo. Its 165,000 members and two million+ yearly visitors help fund its conservation mission.

Voted the best zoo in the UK by TripAdvisor, the zoo’s 130-acre site in Chester is home to about 30,000 animals.

The zoo works with more than 100 conservation partners in 20 countries to protect wildlife, habitats and people. Experts from the zoo are recognised by governments and NGOs across the world as leaders within the global conservation community.

Pictured - Conservation Education Awards.