Groups in the Devizes and Marlborough areas have been given grants to help them boost nature in their locality.

Poulshot Village Trust near Devizes and the Marlborough-based Action for the River Kennet (ARK) have each received £500 from Link2Nature, a local nature partnership set up by Wiltshire Council’s public health department.

Poulshot Village Trust intends to use the money to plant wildflowers in public areas.

Tim Coleman, the group’s secretary, said: “We have a large green in the centre of the village and we’d like to plant an area of wildflowers there so that it can be enjoyed by villagers, visitors and the many local beekeepers.

“Now that we’ve got the grant we’ll be able to start preparing the area in time for spring planting.”

ARK will use its grant to design, construct and install information boards at the entrances to the 15-acre Stonebridge Meadow, known as Stonebridge Wild River Reserve.

The group’s director, Charlotte Hitchmough, said: “Our site at Stonebridge is a magical place and this money will enable us to show people what wildlife they can spot as they explore the meadow.”

Keith Humphries, cabinet member for public health at Wiltshire Council, said: “We all know that getting out in the fresh air can be a real tonic and these projects are all designed to help people enjoy being closer to nature.”