The TRF has won the inaugural TET Sustainability Award. The award, presented to TRF director Chris Cole at the Lightweight Adventurers Festival in August, celebrated the TRF’s 50 plus years of advocacy in defending and conserving the green roads in the UK. The award comes with a €1000 donation to the TRF to be used in its conservation work.

John Ross, founder of the Trans Euro Trail, explained: “The TET Sustainability Award derives from the TET’s desire to celebrate and publicise the hard work of riders and organisations across Europe who make what we all do possible. Advocacy, conservation, negotiation, maintenance, environmental protection and enhance- ment, engagement with co-users and the authorities, representation and education are all hugely important activities that are often forgotten as we ride a wiggly line!

“The award fits with the TET’s stated objectives and activities. TET is about being contributors to and not just users of our environment and trails by helping, should any income surplus allow, to non-political groups working to maintain responsible motorcycle access to unpaved roads in Europe. It goes beyond our already active direct financial support of trail riding organisations. Hopefully it will shine a spotlight on nominees whether or not they win, allowing them to benefit in some way and giving them the assurance that their actions are appreciated.

“This year’s inaugural awards were supported and compared by Clive and Noel of the Trail and Adventure Motorbike Podcast at the Lightweight Adventurers Festival. Both ventures share the TET’s ethos and outlook and we are very grateful for their assistance and hosting.”

Winners were drawn from the UK and France with trail curatorship the theme. The runner-up prize (€500) was also awarded to the TRF in the form of Cumbria TRF’s Steve Stout for his outstanding work in conserving historic green roads in the Lake District .

Graeme Collins, CEO TRF: “It’s an absolute honour to receive this award and we’ll make sure the money gets put to good use in our conservation work. As well, the recognition for Steve Stout is well deserved as Steve has contributed so much to conservation in Cumbria over recent years, and the knowledge he has gained and now shares in green road maintenance is invaluable to the TRF. That John Ross and TET have created these awards is also something we should applaud. Values such as responsibility and giving back are something we very much share with them.”