Winners announced for Sustainable Project of the Year 2025

16/05/2025

Joint winners of Sustainable Project of the Year, Stourbridge Glass Museum Eco-friendly Upcycled Glass Exhibition in New Eco Museum. Credit: Hayley Bray.

Railworld Wildlife Haven and Stourbridge Glass Museum have been crowned the winners of the sustainability award.

The winners were revealed at the Museums + Heritage Awards Ceremony on 15 May.

Alistair Brown, our Head of Museums, Libraries and Archives Policy, said: "We are really proud to sponsor this award, which is all about showcasing the best environmental projects in the heritage sector and encouraging others to take action.

"Railworld Wildlife Haven and Stourbridge Glass Museum show what's possible including volunteer-led action, recycling exhibition and production materials, and promoting energy efficiency. Through our Heritage 2033 strategy, we will continue to support projects across the UK which help to make heritage more environmentally sustainable."

Be inspired by the winners

Railworld Wildlife Haven, Peterborough

A pond with a bridge over it and footpath next to it on a sunny day — An old railway bridge has been repurposed as a footbridge crossing over a pond, one of the many habitats created. Credit: Railworld Wildlife Haven.

The team of volunteers at this once-derelict coal yard have worked passionately and tirelessly to transform it into a thriving inner-city space for wildlife and nature.

Salvaged ironwork has been repurposed to construct habitats such as streams, ponds and waterfalls. The roof of the Earth Centre, which hosts a climate facts exhibition, feeds rainwater to the ponds. A survey in 2024 revealed over 300 species of flora and fauna now exist on site.

Helping others take climate action

The knowledge the team has built of adapting to climate change is shared though presentations at schools, colleges and universities. Over 300 people from local businesses volunteer on the site each year, learning about biodiversity and ways to support nature recovery. Over 700 companies have donated unwanted materials, from cast iron lampposts to clay for lining the ponds, reducing waste and carbon emissions.

Stourbridge Glass Museum, Stourbridge

Small colourful houses made of glass are mounted onto a piece of driftwood — Artwork made by local schoolchildren featured in the Greener Glass Exhibition. Credit: Stourbridge Museum.

To reduce the impact of an energy-intensive industry, the museum has created Europe’s first fully carbon-neutral glass studio. It undertook an energy management audit and installed electric furnaces powered by solar panels, voltage optimisers and LED lighting.

Educational resources, canal walks and free upcycled glassmaking workshops have engaged many local people, families and visitors with environmental issues.

Reducing carbon emissions in exhibition-making

As part of the project, the Greener Glass Exhibition used digital screens powered by solar panels instead of foamex and plastic interpretation boards. The re-usable technology was made locally in Birmingham and has reduced the cost and carbon footprint of subsequent exhibitions.

The glass art in the exhibition was made by artists using waste materials such as car windscreens melted down in a kiln. Local children also showcased their artwork of mounted upcycled glass on driftwood. Their work featured in the International Festival of Glass – attracting 5,000 visitors – encouraging more people to think about the beauty and sustainability of recycled materials.

View all of the Museums + Heritage Awards 2025 winners.