Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award

Download Bessie Bocock Carter Award Guidelines

“… inspire others to outstanding accomplishments on behalf of Virginia’s natural resources.”

With gratitude for the gracious memorial from her family, the Garden Club of Virginia established the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award in 2009. The award’s intent is to fund implementation of a conservation project that will serve as a catalyst for community action. It is a monetary award presented annually to a GCV member club, or to a GCV member club in association with another conservation organization, for either natural resource conservation or environmental protection within the Commonwealth. 

Bessie Bocock Carter (1929 – 2008) was a member of the James River Garden Club and honorary member of the Albemarle Garden Club. She Joined the Garden Club of Virginia due to her concern for, and interest in, conservation. In addition to her work with the club, she also served on the board of the Virginia Chapter of the Nature Conservancy and the Piedmont Environmental Council.

In 2009, established as a memorial by her family, the Garden Club of Virginia founded the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award.

The award makes possible implementation of specific, tangible projects that directly benefit natural resource conservation or environmental protection within the Commonwealth. Award recipients’ contribution to the project must be directly evident and measurable, and each project would inspire others to outstanding accomplishments on behalf of Virginia’s natural resources.

Read about the 2024 Finalists here.

Nominations should be mailed by November 1 to:

Garden Club of Virginia
Kent-Valentine House
12 East Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23219

HISTORY OF BESSIE BOCOCK CARTER AWARD WINNERS

2024 Gabriella Garden Club

2023 Albemarle Garden Club

2022 The Spotswood Garden Club

2021 The Lynchburg Garden Club & Hillside Garden Club

2020 The Little Garden Club of Winchester

2019 Winchester-Clarke Garden Club

2018 The Martinsville Garden Club and The Garden Study Club

2017 The Petersburg Garden Club

2015 The Mill Mountain Garden Club

2014 Albemarle Garden Club

2012 The Northern Neck Land Conservancy and The Garden Club of the Northern Neck

2011 The Garden Club of Norfolk

2010 The Boxwood Garden Club, The James River Garden Club, Three Chopt Garden Club, The Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton