Jimmy Doherty to judge Make a Difference Awards

Broadcaster Jimmy Doherty is a visiting professor at the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Anglia Ruskin University

Conservationist and broadcaster Jimmy Doherty said he was excited to be a judge for the BBC Radio Suffolk Make a Difference Awards 2025.

He will be choosing a winner in the animal category, awarded to an animal that improves the life of an individual or group of people, or a person or group of people working with animals to improve animal welfare.

Doherty said: "It's very important we are in touch with our animals, but also with nature and how we respect wildlife and the environments.

"One individual working away can make a huge difference."

Determination and enthusiasm

Doherty said he would be looking for entries that showed determination.

"When people punch above their weight and just the sheer grit, despite whatever comes at you," he said.

"It doesn't matter how big or small the differences are, or what they think it is.

"It could be anything from planting wildflowers to help bumblebees, to rescuing injured animals or getting animals out into the community

"It's out-of-the-box thinking, but it's really punching above their weight and enthusiasm."

The animal category was introduced last year and was won by Suffolk Prickles Hedgehog Rescue which cares for sick and injured hedgehogs and also trains younger volunteers.

Three finalists were Bryn, a horse at the Shelley Centre for Therapeutic Riding, Oscar the Stowmarket cat (who has since died) and Winston's Wheels, a charity which provides wheelchairs for disabled dogs.

Winston's Wheels founder Rachel Wettner told BBC Radio Suffolk: "We were so proud to be at thee awards - make a difference says it all!

"Since then we've been very busy, it has helped promote the charity and we've had a couple of very nice donations come in, probably because of it."

A younger Jimmy filming on site at Jimmy's Farm in Wherstead, Suffolk - the series was broadcast in 2004

Doherty and his partner Michaela Furney started Jimmy's Farm near Ipswich in 2003, appearing in a BBC documentary following their journey to revive a derelict farm.

The couple married in 2009, and the farm has expanded to include a wildlife park, with polar bears and Arctic foxes.

"Not only we are protecting traditional rare breeds of livestock, we are now involved with international breeding programmes when it comes to wild species as well," Doherty said.

"We seemed to be the place no-hopers and last-chances come, and that can be everything from guinea pigs and hedgehogs, all the way up to polar bears.

"It was amazing, when it came to rescuing Diego the brown bear, how important the local community was for help raising money for a charity to do that.

"We had people donating spare cash, we had a lad in Ipswich who did a sponsored walk had another little girl who did a sponsored bike ride.

"Ed Sheeran donated guitars, we even had Daniel Craig donating one of his watches from the Bond films."

BBC Make a Difference Awards 2025 categories:

• Volunteer Award: For an individual who makes a notable difference to their community by giving their time voluntarily to help others

• Young Hero Award: Given to someone aged under 16 who has made a positive impact in their community or achieved something exceptional

• Great Neighbour Award: Presented to a person who helps to make their neighbourhood a better place to live or work in, either on a regular basis or through a single act of kindness

• Active Award: For an individual or group who have used physical activity or sport as a way of improving the lives of those in their community

• Animal Award: Either bestowed on a remarkable animal that improves people's lives, or given to an individual or group of people who improve the welfare of animals

• Green Award: For an individual or group who improve or conserve their local environment

• Fundraiser Award: Open to an individual or group of people who have gone the extra mile to raise funds for a good cause

• Community Group Award: Presented to a group that has helped to change the lives of others within their community. This award is supported by the BBC show Morning Live.

To nominate go to bbc.co.uk/makeadifference, where you can also see the full Terms and our Privacy Notice.

Nominations will close on Monday 31 March at 17:00 BST.