If eco homes bring to mind whimsical ‘hobbit houses’ decorated with raffia rugs and wind chimes, then let Oak Tree Court in Nottinghamshire open your eyes to a new and sophisticated greener lifestyle.

A wide range of companies, public sector organisations and individuals have scooped top honours at the 2011 CIWM Awards for Environmental Excellence. The winners were announced at the Marriott London Grosvenor Square hotel yesterday, at an awards ceremony hosted by Alistair McGowan, who praised the waste sector for the work it does in reducing society’s environmental impact and raising awareness.

Calling all entrants for the new Greenbuild Awards 2012 - to commend sustainable new build and retrofit projects that work!

Entries are now being sought for the new Greenbuild Awards 2012.

Working in partnership with the Green Gauge Trust, the Greenbuild Awards 2012 is for sustainable newbuild or retrofit projects that have achieved the energy or performance targets that were set at the design stage.

Over 30 representatives from Welsh local authorities and quarrying and mining companies with an interest in the restoration of landscapes affected by mineral extraction attended a free interactive showcase, hosted by Welsh Slate and WRAP Cymru at Penrhyn Quarry in Bethesda, Gwynedd on 2 November.

Welsh Slate-owned Penrhyn Quarry is WRAP Cymru’s first large-scale landscape restoration project and forms part of WRAP’s commitment to improvement of landscapes which are affected by quarrying.