Countryside projects in Hampshire have been celebrated at an annual awards ceremony.

The CPRE Hampshire Countryside Awards took place on Tuesday, December 10, at Kings Somborne Village Hall, where over 50 people gathered to honour individuals and organisations committed to enhancing the Hampshire countryside.

Margaret Paren, chair of CPRE Hampshire, and the Earl of Malmesbury, president of CPRE Hampshire, presented the awards to the four finalists.

Among the winners was the Alton in Bloom Community Grow Club, which bagged the Hampshire Grassroots Action Award.

Judges praised the club for its ability to enrich the town and environment while fostering community spirit.

Blacknest Fields Nature Recovery won the Hampshire Projects in Protected Landscapes Award for transforming an eight-acre site into a wildlife haven.

Judges noted the project's lasting impact on biodiversity.

The Future Energy Landscape Workshops, led by Energise South Downs, won the Hampshire Climate Action Award for helping communities explore renewable energy technologies.

The project was commended for its local-level solutions to the climate crisis.

Walk and Talk Therapies by Winchester Youth Counselling clinched the Hampshire Countryside Health & Wellbeing Award for using nature to engage young people in therapy.

The Litter Pickers of the New Forest received high commendation for their efforts in keeping the countryside clean.

Sarah Womersley from the Blacknest Field group spoke on behalf of the group and said: "We are delighted to receive this award, it recognises all the huge community effort that has gone into the project. Blacknest Fields is such a special place and has brought the community together to care for it for future generations."

The Hampshire Choice Award, voted by the public, was awarded to the Blacknest Fields Nature Recovery Project, recognising its contribution to nature recovery in the South Downs National Park.

The CPRE Hampshire Countryside Awards continue to celebrate the efforts of those improving the Hampshire countryside.