A CLUTCH of environmental awards has gone to West Somerset and Quantock Hills groups 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.

Awards for ‘blue or green spaces showcasing projects that benefit both people and the environment’ went to the ‘Elm and Hairstreak Project’ run by the Friends of the Quantocks, and for habitat improvements created by Stowey Green Spaces Group, as previously reported by the Free Press.

Countryside change maker awards which celebrate people making a real difference in the Somerset countryside were presented to Sustainable Wootton Courtenay, on Exmoor, and to the ‘Wilder Enmore and Goathurst’ initiative, on the Quantocks.

A housing solution award celebrating inspiring and sustainable housing projects in rural Somerset was won by the Somerset Council social housing project in Rainbow Way, Minehead, which built 54 council properties now managed by Homes in Somerset.

The ‘Elm and Hairstreak Project’ has planted more than 400 disease-resistant elm trees on the Quantocks to provide natural habitat for the hairstreak butterfly which depends solely on this particular species of tree.

The community group Sustainable Wootton Courtenay is dedicated to promoting eco-friendly practices, biodiversity, and local climate action by villagers.

‘Wilder Enmore and Goathurst’ is a joint initiative by the two parish councils aimed at improving local wildlife habitats and biodiversity.

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.

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.”