A prestigious Norfolk nature award has been given to a local scientist.

The Sydney Long Memorial Medal is given to Norfolk's best naturalists.

It was awarded to Dr Anne Edwards, chair of Wymondham Nature Group, for her outstanding work to promote conservation.

The medal winner was announced during the annual general meeting of the Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) on Thursday, November 7.

The award is jointly given by the NWT and the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society every two years for an outstanding contribution to the county's natural history.

Dr Anne Edwards has been part of the Wymondham Nature Group committee for 20 years, and chair for many of those.

Anne Edwards receiving the Sydney Long Medal Anne Edwards receiving the Sydney Long Medal (Image: Shaun Lawson)

In the past 18 years she has organised regular work parties to carry out conservation work at NWT Lower Wood, Ashwellthorpe and NWT Hethel Old Thorn.

These sites have become thriving havens for biodiversity.

Dr Edwards was able to connect her observations on ash die-back at Lower Wood with her professional expertise as a molecular biologist at the John Innes Centre.

In 2015 she received the British Empire Medal for services to the environment and public understanding of science.

She has also been working on a three-year programme to get women into science and is a member of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists’ Society Council.

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The award was presented to Dr Edwards by ambassador of the NWT, Nick Acheson, in Ashwellthorpe Wood.

Mr Acheson said: "Dr Anne Edwards is a hugely worthy recipient of the Sydney Long Memorial Medal.

"Through her many years' voluntary work with Wymondham Nature Group and Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society she has helped both document our county's precious wildlife and bring people close to it."

Dr Edwards said: "I am hugely honoured to receive this prestigious natural history medal particularly in the setting of Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Lower Wood, Ashwellthorpe, a veritable cornucopia of biodiversity."