A VILLAGE green improvement scheme at Wellington Heath, near Ledbury, has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award, at the 2015 Biffa Awards.

Community Voluntary Action, Ledbury and District will now compete against three other organisations from across the country for the chance to be named winner of the ‘Recreation’ category and receive a £1,500 prize!

The project received £28,171 in funding from Biffa Award to improve an area of land, known as Pool Piece, near the Farmers Arms pub, for a range of community activities.

A Biffa Award spokesman said: "The project has created an outdoor space comprising children's play area, pleasant seating, an activity space and meeting area. The new improvements have also created a more environmentally friendly, attractive area by adding a range of native plants and flowers to encourage insects and birds.

"Because of the success of the project several events have already been held in Pool Piece, including a short play based on the Gruffalo, by the younger members of the village drama group, as well as folk music and a family picnic."

The Biffa Awards 2015 will be held on October 1 at the Coventry Transport Museum.

More than 240 projects were eligible to enter the awards under five different categories: Community Buildings, Cultural Facilities, Rebuilding Biodiversity, Recreation and Small Grants.

Category winners at the Awards will receive a trophy and prize money of £1,500, which can be used to further develop their project. Each winner then has the chance of being crowned the Overall Winner for 2015, receiving a further £1,000 prize.