Ministry of Defence Sanctuary Awards

The Sanctuary Awards have been recognising outstanding conservation and sustainability efforts across the MOD estate since 1991.

The awards celebrate and encourage group and individual efforts that benefit sustainable development, environmental and heritage conservation, utilities and resource-saving measures, sustainable construction and procurement or community awareness on land or property that the MOD owns or uses in the UK and overseas.

35^th34th Sanctuary Awards 2026

EntriesThe 34th Sanctuary Awards ceremony will be held on Monday 13 October 2025 from 11.30am.

The ceremony will include a guest speaker and short films about the project winners alongside the trophy presentations.

NominationsAwards arewill beingbe soughtpresented in the following categories:

• Climate Change Resilience Award –- projects or activities focused on taking action to enhance climate resilience through mitigation or adaption.
• EnergyEarly Career Award - – for energyindividuals in the first 5 years of fueltheir projectssustainability thator decreaseconservation energycareer demand,who increasehave energymade efficiencya and/orsignificant increasepersonal energycontribution resilienceto MOD sustainability throughor sustainability.conservation.
• Environmental Enhancement Award – - projects focused on wildlife,wildlife and biodiversity, environmental research, facilitating public access, or tackling pollution orand contamination issues.
• Individual Achievement Award - for those who have made a significant personal contribution to MOD sustainability or conservation as a volunteer, MOD employee or contractor.
• Heritage Award – - projects focused on archaeology, historic buildings, historic parks orand gardens, historic landscape preservation, museum collections, or heritage education orand public engagement.
• IndividualNet AchievementZero Award –and anyResource individualEfficiency whoAward - hasprojects madethat acontribute significantto personal contribution to the MOD’s sustainability’s orNet conservationZero ambitions.
• SocialCarbon Impactambition, Award –reduce grass-rootsenergy, sustainabilitywater projectsor focusingresource onconsumption, communityrenewable engagement,energy green spaces, wellbeing or facilitating public access.recycling.
• SustainabilitySustainable ImprovementDelivery Award –- for projects that demonstratedeliver sustainabilityagainst improvementsa MOD priority througharea, implementationobjective ofor circularcommitment economyto principlesimprove (includingor reducinginnovate resourcethe consumptionsustainability orof wasteequipment andor recycling),services, sustainablemanagement procurement,of sustainablesupply constructionchains or refurbishmentproduct projects,life andcycles, improvementsdigitalisation, in equipment or systemsnew-build throughconstruction ecoand design.refurbishment projects.

TheWinners Operationalfrom Capabilitythe Awardabove categories will be chosenfurther fromconsidered thefor shortlistedone nominationsof and awarded to the project which best delivers enhanced operational capability through sustainability and climate considerations.following:

• And the Silver Otter Trophy will- be chosen from the category winners and awarded to the best Establishment, Conservation Group or communitycommunity-led led project or individual conservation effort on the MOD estate.

• FurtherOperational information,Capability eligibilityAward criteria- andawarded to the onlineproject entrywhich formbest candelivers beenhanced foundoperational oncapability thethrough Sanctuary portal.sustainability.

• YouInnovation shouldAward submit- yourjudged nominationby before the deadlineMinistry of 5pmDefence onInnovation 27Directorate Februaryto 2026. 

  Forhighlight queriesa pleaseproject email:which DIO-Sanctuary@mod.gov.ukexemplifies innovative behaviours, ensures a clear drive for sustainable innovation, enhances operational efficiency and contributes to environmental resilience within the defence sector.

Related content

• Sanctuary magazine
• Sustainability and Climate Change: MOD