A GROUP who swim in the Stour Estuary have been named as the winners of a national award and been nominated for the BBC’s ‘Make a Difference’ award.

The Manningtree Mermaids are a 'wild' swimming group who were successful after years of campaigning in their bid for Manningtree beach to receive bathing water status, which was granted in May.

It means the Environment Agency will monitor the water quality of the Stour Estuary weekly during the bathing season over a five-year period.  

Due to the achievement, the group was named as the winners of the annual David Wood National Landscape Award for 2024.

The Manningtree Mermaids meet for open-water swims at high tide at Manningtree beach and now have more than 180 swimmers.

The Mermaids are also finalists in the green category of the BBC’s Make a Difference Awards which celebrate people who are going above and beyond to make a difference in their community.

Success - The Manningtree Mermaids (Left to Right) Catherine Arnold, Anna Helm Baxter, and Helen Whitehead celebrating their success in getting bathing site designation for Manningtree BeachSuccess - Manningtree Mermaids Catherine Arnold, Anna Helm Baxter and Helen Whitehead celebrating their success in getting bathing site designation for Manningtree beach (Image: Tazzybro Photography)

A spokesman from Manningtree Mermaids said: “The Manningtree Mermaids are delighted to be recognised for our work in achieving bathing water designation at Manningtree beach and to receive this beautiful award.

“We hope this will be a step towards protecting the precious Stour Estuary for generations to come.”

Nick Collinson, chair of the Suffolk and Essex Coast and Heaths National Landscape Partnership, said: “Through the selfless hard work and dedication of incredible volunteers, the Manningtree Mermaids have brought together a community to enjoy swimming and spending time outdoors in the national landscape.

“The bathing water designation that the Mermaids achieved for the Stour will have a long-term, positive impact on the estuary and they are fully deserving winners of the David Wood National Landscape Award.”

The award is named after David Wood, who served as Chairman of the Suffolk and Essex Coast and Heaths National Landscape for more than 20 years.

Mr Wood was instrumental in securing the historic extension of the national landscape to include the Stour Estuary in Essex in 2020.

You can find out more about David Wood National Landscape Award at coastandheaths-NL.org.uk/awards.

To become part of the Manningtree Mermaids which is also open to "all merfolk” join the Manningtree Mermaids’ Facebook group.