Suzie Harvey, a volunteer Charter champion and super campaigner  from Crewe has won the prestigious volunteer of the year award from the Woodland Trust.

She won the Juniper Award which was one of 10 accolades given at a volunteer award ceremony.

The honour recognises volunteers who raise awareness around woodland and tree protection championing the charity’s causes. The event was hosted by BBC’s Adam Shaw and awards were presented by Woodland Trust chair of trustees Baroness Barbara Young.

Suzie originally started as a social media volunteer for the Woodland Trust’s Tree Charter, which was launched at Lincoln Castle early November.

The charter is a set on tree protection principles fuelled by over 120,000 UK public signatures due to some influential campaigning by the trust’s staff and volunteers alike.

As a social media volunteer, Suzie has brought enthusiasm and ideas to the role. She gained over 3000 likes and over 500 followers through her Twitter channel: @SaveUKTrees – which was launched earlier this year.

The role only asks for three hours of her time a week however she can give up to 15 hours a week to researching, blogging and retweeting conservation content that promotes the benefits of woods to our lives and also to wildlife.

Suzie said: “Joining the Woodland Trust as a social media volunteer for the charter launch was perfect as I knew how important our woods and trees are and I really wanted to shout about it. I am thrilled to receive this award and hope to continue my work to campaigning for our woods and trees."

Matt Larsen-Daw, Woodland Trust Charter Project Leader, added:

“Social media is vital in our campaigning activities, we need the public to share and motivate discourse surrounding woodland protection. Suzie has gone above and beyond what was expected of her and has displayed unmatched determination to fuel our online content, particularly with this year’s Charter launch."