A FALCON has helped a Chelmsford landfill site scoop a top award by preventing other animals from scavenging.
The endangered eastern European Saker falcons are usually found flying in the skies of Africa during winter.
Yet Roxwell Landfill's beloved friend Daisy spends her hours scaring away seagulls and rodents which would otherwise overrun the site.
And her work was a contributing factor when Roxwell earned a gold award under Essex County Council's Mineral Working and Active Landfill Environmental scheme in February.
The award was its second gold crown in two years.
Dave Benfield, site manager at Roxwell, said: "This is an amazing achievement for us.
"The award is a testament to all the hard work from everyone at Roxwell. And of course, let's not forget the help we get from Daisy in the air."
The site, just off Roxwell Road, won the award following assessments of each of the county's 17 landfill sites.
Using a bird of prey to reduce the number of animals living both on and close to a landfill is seen by experts as an environmentally friendly solution to the problem.
Many landfills that do not take steps to control seagulls scavenging on their site often report a rapid growth in the size of the flock, resulting in an overpopulation of the birds in nearby areas.
