Local environmental project gets through to finals

Stuart Hedley (foreground), the Watershed Landscape project botanist, and Katie Quantrell, Watershed Landscape project apprentice, conducting grassland species identification in the South Pennines

A project working in the South Pennine uplands is one of three finalists in its category from across the UK and is only one step away from taking the title of best environmental project in this year’s National Lottery Awards.

The Watershed Landscape project, managed by Pennine Prospects, brings the story of the South Pennine uplands to life through a series of conservation, restoration, education and creative arts initiatives with volunteers taking the lead. To win the project now needs votes from the public.

“Getting through to the final of The National Lottery Awards means so much to us. We’re proud of how we’re changing lives with National Lottery funding,” explained Pam Warhurst, chair of Pennine Prospects. “Every volunteer, pupil or professional, would just love people to vote for us to win. It would be the icing on this brilliant cake. We’d like to thank the many people who voted for us in the first round and now we’d like your vote and support again for success in the final.”

The winner in each category, decided by public vote, will be celebrated at a special star-studded BBC One Show later in the year. Prior to that, films of the projects in action will be screened on The National Lottery Draw Show on BBC One. The Watershed Landscape project will feature later this month.

In the Rochdale area the project is funding improvements to footpaths in the borough as part of the exciting Reservoir Trails project, which uses twenty-first century technology, including podscrolls, to bring the upland features to life.

Since 2009 the Watershed Landscape project has restored fields, dry-stone walls and footpaths, worked with volunteers and brought the story of the South Pennines to school children. The project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and the South Pennines LEADER programme, (the Rural Development Programme for England), which is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union, and managed by Pennine Prospects.

The winning project in each category will receive national recognition on BBC One in early November and, in addition to the Lottery funding they have already received, will receive a £2,000 cash prize to spend on their project.

Voting for the finals has already started and will end at midnight on Sunday 28 October. To register your vote for the Watershed Landscape project call 0844 836 9699 or to find out more go to www.watershedlandscape.co.uk or log on to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards