TWO environmental awards have been achieved by Wellington in the first ever Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) ‘Love Your Countryside’ initiative.

The awards are part of CPRE’s 100th anniversary year celebrations.

The town council received two awards in partnership with Transition Town Wellington (TTW) and the Woodland Trust.

They were for ‘blue or green spaces showcasing projects that benefit both people and the environment’.

One was given to the Fox’s Field forest garden, in Tonedale, and other for woodland planting across The Basins.

A town council spokesperson said: “These new awards were created to shine a light on inspiring projects that help protect and regenerate the environment.

“The blue or green Spaces category looked for projects that demonstrated community involvement, nature recovery, innovative and knowledge-based approaches, connectivity, and access, addressing countryside challenges, and being future-focussed and flexible.

“Judges were impressed with the high level of community involvement at Fox’s Field, as well as the regular monitoring of species, allowing Transition Town Wellington to scientifically log the impact of their work.

“For the woodland creation scheme, judges noted the positive collaboration with the Woodland Trust and the detailed ecological research and site planning.

“They also praised the involvement of the local community and the many voluntary hours put in.

“Congratulations and well done to everybody involved.”

More than 50 guests from across the county gathered to receive their awards at a ‘joyful event’ organised by CPRE Somerset, with sponsorship from Hastoe Housing, in the Coronation Hall, in Burrowbridge.

The charity presented a total of 21 awards across five categories.

Attending to receive certificates were town council open spaces manager Darren Hill, the Woodland Trust’s Rosie Walker, and Helen Gillingham and Anita Corbin, from TTW.

CPRE Somerset chairman Hugh Williams said: “This is the first year of our new awards and we have been so pleased to have such a good response.

“The quality and variety of the entries is amazing.

“There are so many special projects and people working hard to make rural Somerset a better place for nature and people to live and thrive .

“We are proud to celebrate and congratulate them all.

“From large housing companies creating energy efficient and affordable homes for rural communities, to small groups of volunteers rolling up their sleeves to clear litter from their local green space, all our winners have made a real difference to their local environment.”

Entrants had to show projects involved improvements to the rural environment, whether natural or built, and demonstrate sustainability in their construction, use, and management.

The projects also had to be visible from public places or have some sort of opportunity for the public to experience them, such as at specific events, or by arrangement.

CPRE Somerset describes itself as the ‘countryside charity’.

A spokesperson said: “We are working for a countryside that is rich in nature, accessible to everybody, and playing a crucial role in responding to the climate emergency.

“We stand for a countryside that enriches all of our lives, nourishing our wellbeing, and that we in turn nourish, protect, and celebrate.”