THREE people and a community group from North Hampshire were honoured in this year’s Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Wilder Awards.

The Wilder Annual Awards celebrate the achievements made by individuals, groups and organisations who are making a difference for wildlife and the environment.

Friends Hazel Metcalfe and Sarah Smith, from Whitchurch, were awarded The Individual Action for Nature Award for their voluntary work with the Watercress and Winterbournes project.

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The Wilder Neighbourhoods Award was scooped by Wilder Bramley for its work creating a community bee garden, wildflower area and the Bramley Green Grassland Restoration Project.

Claire Levée, from Wilder Bramley, said: “We were thrilled and humbled to be recognised for the community work we are doing both in terms of practical conservation and education to enhance biodiversity and sustainability. We love the Team Wilder ethos and working with HIWWT – we can’t wait to achieve even more for nature.”

The Outstanding Contribution Award was given to John Ayres, of Fleet, who for more than 40 years has volunteered at the Hart and Rushmoor Group and as reserve manager with the Northern Estates Reserves Team.

Presenting the awards at the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust conference at Lakeside North Harbour in Portsmouth, trust president Megan McCubbin said: “We are delighted to celebrate the champions of nature across our communities.

“Many people are doing remarkable work to help nature flourish and make Hampshire and Isle of Wight wilder and greener, but our winners today have gone the extra mile with their passion, creativity and unstinting hard work.

“It is through the efforts of all our champions that nature will recover, and we can achieve our dream of a better, wilder future.”