National Award for Devon Outdoor Innovator

The Outdoors Group was named overall winner in the Rural Business Awards National Finals

The ground-breaking organisation which provides outdoors-based educational and recreational activities at sites across Devon picked up the gong for the Best Rural Recreational or Outdoor Pursuits category.

Director Shevek Pring said: “We were over the moon to be named category winners in the regional heats last year; being recognised nationally is the icing on the cake.

“2021 was our tenth year in business and was a real game changer in terms of growth. We’re proud to be helping ever more children, young people and adults to have access to the outdoors for learning and for play.”

The group now has 13 sites across the county which offer five forest schools with toddler groups, home ed sessions and holiday clubs; three special schools; a transitional learning programme for those struggling in mainstream education; and training for educators looking to gain and improve skills for working outdoors with young people.

Over the past year several outdoor experiences for adults have been put in place, including a yoga retreat, rewilding weekend and a new foraging workshop.

The Rural Business Awards were established in late 2014 by Jemma Clifford and Anna Price – two business owners who work in rural Leicestershire.

Running since 2015, the aim of the awards is to give recognition to businesses operating across the Rural sector, acknowledging the breadth and depth of opportunity presented by the Great British countryside.