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Are you a heritage angel? Prizes for people who save heritage.

New annual English Heritage awards to celebrate the efforts of local people in saving their heritage, supported by Andrew Lloyd Webber, were announced recently Saturday 11 June, 2011, in The Daily Telegraph – the media partner for the awards.

The English Heritage Angel Awards – “the Angels” – will be presented at a high profile event at the Palace Theatre in London’s West End in the autumn hosted by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The Lion Terrace, one of many fine listed structures in the grounds of Harlaxton Manor, Lincolnshire, which are currently being rescued.

There will be four annual awards for the best rescues or repairs of historic buildings or sites on the English Heritage Heritage at Risk Register. This is an eye-opening catalogue of all of England’s most important treasures threatened by neglect, decay or inappropriate change. It includes Grade I and Grade II* listed buildings (and Grade II in London), scheduled monuments, registered parks, gardens, landscapes and battlefields, conservation areas, protected wrecks and, from later this year, historic places of worship which are in poor or very bad condition.

Groups or individuals entering the competition must have rescued or be well under way with saving something that has been on the Heritage at Risk register since 2008 or meets the criteria for being on the Register.

A panel of judges, to be chaired by Andrew Lloyd Webber, will include Melvyn Bragg, Charles Moore of the Daily Telegraph and Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage. From a short-list of 16 entries from around the country, they will choose four winners, one each for

All short-listed applicants will be invited to meet Andrew Lloyd Webber and the other judges at the awards ceremony at the Palace Theatre in the autumn.

To enter or find more information about eligibility, visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/heritageangelawards  before 12 August, 2011.

Andrew Lloyd Webber said: “Protecting our heritage is one of the most important causes we, as a community, can undertake.  Therefore, I am proud to help English Heritage celebrate the rescues of some of our most valuable cultural treasures. The ‘Angel’ Awards are a brilliant way of saying ‘Thank You’ to those who have made a significant contribution towards protecting our heritage and I hope by raising awareness for the sites that are at risk we can maintain these distinctly English landmarks for posterity.”

Mark Skipworth, Executive Editor, The Daily Telegraph, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Angel Awards as it is such an important cause. We know that the standard of entries will be very high as this will appeal not only to our readers but all those who invest in our heritage.”

Dr Simon Thurley said: “Our Heritage at Risk register is a dynamic picture of the health of the country’s heritage and a great way to focus attention on the parts of England’s heritage most in need. Since 1999 more than 50% of historic buildings on the register have been rescued and therefore removed from the register. It is time to turn the spotlight on the people that make this happen, the local groups, the congregations and spirited individuals who, through passion and determination, make sure our finest buildings, our ancient monuments, our beautiful historic gardens and our local conservation areas, survive for present and future generations to enjoy.”