NATURAL England recognised two people from Herefordshire for their outstanding efforts to enhance habitats for wildlife.

Simon Cutter and Martin Rowberry were presented with Natural England Conservation Awards along with 11 other people from the West Midlands.

Mr Cutter, tenant of Courtfield Estate in Welsh Bicknor near Ross-on-Wye picked up a trophy for his work on managing grasslands for wildlife and using innovative livestock management techniques in the Symonds Yat area.

His extensive grazing techniques have been key to the success of the species diversity at the estate.

Mr Cutter was one of the first members of the Pasture-Fed Livestock Association to become an approved supplier, sharing his ideas and techniques with others.

His work has resulted in a large area of high quality grassland and parkland which Natural England said will be providing an invaluable habitat for invertebrates, birds and mammals as well as protecting a key designated river in an area with a landscape highly visible to the public.

Martin Rowberry, chairman of Coppett Hill Trust was awarded a trophy together with the trust, for their work at Coppett Hill Common in Goodrich, near Ross.

The local community trust, and friends of the hill, focus their efforts on cutting back bracken areas for small pearl bordered fritillary butterflies. They have re-invested money to purchase an alpine tractor to help with site management.

Emma Johnson, area manager for the West Midlands team, said: “There are a wide range of individuals working away in the background to make a difference for their local wildlife, and their efforts are often unnoticed and unrewarded. We wanted to say thank you for all that hard work that makes such a difference to struggling species.”

The awards have been launched this year to acknowledge the amount of work done by individuals to protect and enhance the wildlife on their own doorstep.