The Environment Agency is celebrating its 10th anniversary by asking the public to vote for what they believe is the most iconic symbol from our environment. Twelve Icons of the Environment have been shortlisted by the Agency’s 13,000 staff - including species, habitats, places and manmade icons. The public are encouraged to vote for their favourite choice from the shortlist or nominate an environmental icon of their own, at the official ICONS - A Portrait of England website: http://www.icons.org.uk/, which is a not-for-profit organisation set up by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. The 12 shortlisted icons are:       

(1) Dartmoor

(2) Eden Project

(3) Hedgerows

(4) Bluebell Woods

(5) Barn Owl

(6) Bicycle

(7) Hedgehog

(8) Thames Barrier

(9) Salmon

(10) Windmill & Windfarm

(11) Otter

(12) Recycling Logo

Environment Agency Director of Corporate Affairs Helen McCallum said: "we are delighted to be working with Icons Online on this fascinating project that presents a unique portrait of our heritage.  "The short-listed ICONS of the Environment embrace a range of natural heritage species and habitats that we revere; human ingenuity that showcases integration with the environment and symbols of our increasing efforts to protect the planet from over-exploitation.  "In particular, iconic species like the salmon and otter hold a special place in the hearts of Environment Agency staff, given the conservation work that we have done over the past ten years to ensure their survival.  "Ten years ago only 2% of salmon rivers in England and Wales had sustainable fish stocks - but with the clean-up work that’s been carried across the nation’s waterways, that figure may now be as high as 35%.  

"With rivers the cleanest they’ve been since the Industrial Revolution, otters have also returned to every major city in England and increased their numbers in Welsh strongholds."

Meanwhile, the Thames Barrier is not only a magnificent engineering feat providing London’s main defence against tidal surges but symbolises how humankind and the Environment Agency will have to adapt in the coming years as climate change brings rising sea-levels, and storms become more frequent and fierce.

"ICONS of the Environment is a brilliant way of highlighting why we work so hard to create a better place for wildlife and humans alike." 

Jerry Doyle, ICONS’ Managing Director said: "ICONS of the Environment is the first partnership project of this kind that we have undertaken. It will really help to raise awareness of all the environmental treasures we have in England and Wales and will inspire people of all ages to love and protect the wonders of our natural world for generations to come. We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Environment Agency on this initiative." 

"The ICONS of the Environment launch coincides with the unveiling of 21 new additions to the main ICONS’ - A Portrait of England collection. Growing ever bigger and richer in content, the total number of official Icons now stands at 74. Appropriately, England’s natural beauty, habitat and landscape are strongly featured in this latest wave."