BBC Countryfile's Adam Henson has labelled the work of the Marlborough Downs Nature Improvement Area partnership an outstanding footprint for nature improvement.

Mr Henson was recognising the achievements of the partnership over the last three years whilst speaking at the MDNIA Spring Celebration at Marlborough Golf Club on Thursday (MAR 19). 

The celebration was attended by farmers, partners and supporters of the project, including Richard Benyon MP for Newbury and Andrew Sells, chairman of Natural England.

The achievements of the MDNIA Community Outreach group, which has organised a programme of events throughout the year, including Open Farm Sunday, was also recognised with Laura Corbett and Suzie Swanton receiving the 2015 Wildlife Champion trophy from Mr Henson.

The group is the only farmer-led Nature Improvement Area partnership, of which there are twelve in the UK.

Since it was founded in 2012, the MDNIA has implemented numerous wildlife and conservation projects across 10,370 hectares of chalk down land on 35 farms between Avebury, Marlborough and Swindon.

Mr Henson said: "As well as facing some challenges, I believe these are exciting times for British farming.

"We have a responsibility to persuade consumers to support British production across all aspects of farming and continue to educate at all levels on best practices and where our food comes from.

"As well as the MDNIA being the only farmer led NIA in the country, its outstanding results is a showcase of excellent farming practice and how it can impact on conservation and wildlife projects".

Since 2012, over 150 acres of chalk grassland are undergoing restoration while seven new wildlife sits have been set up and 16 ponds created or restored.

Teresa Dent, chair of the MDNIA Partnership and chief Executive of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, hailed the work of the project.

She said: "This farmer-led NIA is itself a rare breed.

"It has a generated a tremendous legacy for conservation in the area and inspired new landscape scale conservation projects nationally.

"With support from Natural England as well as the government mapping the MDNIA's work into new countryside stewardship schemes, we are looking forward to the future and delivering further wildlife and conservation milestones".

Guests were also treated to an insight into the history of hawking and falconry and its role in conservation by Mark Upton.

The sport can be traced back in Wiltshire since the 1800's, where Salisbury Plain was a popular hawking area due to the expanse of its countryside.

The next MDNIA Open Farm Sunday will be held on 7 June 2015 at Overtown Farm, Wroughton.

For more information on the MDNIA and how to get involved visit www.mdnia.org.uk