Success is rewarded at countryside awards night

INSPIRATIONAL groups and projects were awarded for their contribution to the countryside at a ceremony.

The Annual Hampshire Countryside Awards, announced at a special ceremony attended by over 100 guests at the Littleton Millennium Memorial Hall in Winchester earlier this month, saw 15 finalists.

They were presented with a certificate by Nigel Atkinson Esq, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire who presented commemorative plaques to the five winners.

The Watercress Way, Sustainability Centre, Chalk Stream Foods and Mayfield Community Partnership were all winners on the night.

The Hampshire’s Choice Award winner was Bishop’s Waltham North Pond Conservation Volunteers for their pond restoration work.

Campaign to Protect Rural England Hampshire chief executive George Sallis said: ‘Almost 2,000 votes were cast which demonstrates the incredible support in Hampshire for work that promotes a living and thriving countryside.’