Ministry of Defence Sanctuary Awards
The annual Sanctuary Awards recognise outstanding conservation and sustainability efforts across the Ministry of Defence (MOD) estate.
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.
35th Sanctuary Awards 2026
Entries for the 35th Sanctuary Awards are now open.
Nominations are being sought in the following categories:
- Climate Change Resilience Award – projects or activities focused on taking action to enhance climate resilience through adaption.
- Energy Award – for energy of fuel projects that decrease energy demand, increase energy efficiency and/or increase energy resilience through sustainability.
- Environmental Enhancement Award – projects focused on wildlife, biodiversity, environmental research, or tackling pollution or contamination issues.
- Heritage Award – projects focused on archaeology, historic buildings, historic parks or gardens, landscape preservation, museum collections, or heritage education or public engagement.
- Individual Achievement Award – any individual who has made a significant personal contribution to MOD’s sustainability or conservation ambitions.
- Social Impact Award – grass-roots sustainability projects focusing on community engagement, green spaces, wellbeing or facilitating public access.
- Sustainability Improvement Award – for projects that demonstrate sustainability improvements through implementation of circular economy principles (including reducing resource consumption or waste and recycling), sustainable procurement, sustainable construction or refurbishment projects, and improvements in equipment or systems through eco design.
The Operational Capability Award will be chosen from the shortlisted nominations and awarded to the project which best delivers enhanced operational capability through sustainability and climate considerations.
And the Silver Otter Trophy will be chosen from the category winners and awarded to the best Establishment, Conservation Group or community led project or individual conservation effort on the MOD estate.
Further information, eligibility criteria and the online entry form can be found on the Sanctuary portal.
You should submit your nomination before the deadline of 5pm on 27 February 2026.
For queries please email: DIO-Sanctuary@mod.gov.uk
Related content
Updates to this page
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Information about submitting nominations for the 35th Sanctuary Awards 2026 has been added.
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Added live stream registration link and updated award categories.
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'Ministry of Defence Sanctuary Awards' updated.
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Updated information on the 34th Sanctuary Awards 2025.
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Added video link for the 33rd Sanctuary Awards and announced categories for the 34th Sanctuary Awards.
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Updated information on the 33rd Sanctuary Awards 2024.
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Nominations for the 33rd Sanctuary Awards 2023 will open 12 June 2023 9am.
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Notification that nominations for Sanctuary 2022 are now closed.
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Addition of note on how to submit an entry via the new portal for 2022.
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Attachment removed as this is no longer required for submission of awards 2022. Last paragraph removed as the information is now out of date.
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Updating website with Sanctuary Award results 2021
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Launch of Sanctuary Award nominations 2022
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Added: 2021 Sanctuary Awards Winners section
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Updated content under 'Selecting a winner' heading.
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Page updated as nominations for Sanctuary Awards 2021 are now closed.
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Updated content on sustainable procurement and construction award under heading 'Award Categories'.
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Updated the page for 2021 applications and entries.
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Added a link to the live streaming of the awards ceremony.
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