HEREFORDSHIRE Wildlife Trust is appealing for votes for a project which involved working with around 8,000 young people across the county.

The trust's WildPlay scheme is in the running to receive nationwide acclaim on BBC One in this year’s National Lottery Awards.

The project beat off stiff competition from more than 600 organisations to reach the public voting stage in the awards – the annual search for the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects.

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust is competing against six other projects to be crowned the winner of the Best Environment Project category. The winners will each get a £3,000 cash prize to spend on their project as well as a National Lottery Awards trophy and the chance to attend a star-studded glittering ceremony in London.

WildPlay worked across seven socially deprived housing estates creating opportunities for local communities to create and transform their urban green spaces.

Around 8,000 children and young people got involved, taking part in WildPlay activities including gardening, cooking, den building, outdoor, and all-weather, games and learning about wildlife through play.

Joanna Dainty, from Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, said: “We’re delighted that the life changing impact of our work has been recognised in this way.

"We’d love to win the UK’s Best Environment Project award. We’re hoping all our supporters will vote for us in appreciation of our efforts to make local areas more appealing.”

To vote for WildPlay, visit lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards or call 0844 836 9681 and follow the campaign on twitter: hashtag #NLAwards.

Voting runs until midnight on Wednesday July, 20.