THE project to conserve Stonebridge water meadows in Marlborough has been shortlisted for a prestigious national Biffa Award.

Selected from nearly 100 applicants, the Stonebridge Lane Chalk Stream Habitat Restoration project will compete against four other organisations from across the country for the chance to be named winner of the small grants category, and receive a £2,000 prize.

The project received £4,600 in funding from Biffa Award to provide access to an area of ‘wild’ river close to town, bringing people closer to their natural environment.

The Biffa Awards ceremony will be held on September 27 at the Historic Dockyard Chatham, Kent, where all the finalists will be invited to attend a day of celebrating the enthusiasm and commitment of those who dedicate their lives to making a difference to their community and the environment.

Competition has been fierce, with more than 200 projects eligible to enter the awards under five different categories: community buildings, cultural facilities, rebuilding biodiversity, recreation and small grants.

Category winners will receive a trophy and £2,000, which can be used to develop their projects. Each winner then has the chance of being crowned the overall winner for 2012, receiving a further £1,000 prize.

Gillian French, Biffa Award programme manager, said: “The Biffa Awards are a unique opportunity to reward and recognise the dedicated people who are delivering some of the excellent projects we have funded.

“A great deal of the projects we support have a huge and lasting impact on their local community and environment, so to be shortlisted for an award is a tremendous achievement in itself. Our judges have a difficult but exciting task ahead in choosing the winners.”

Chalotte Hitchmough, director of Action for the River Kennet (ARK), which is behind the Stonebridge Lane project, said: “‘We are delighted to have been shortlisted for this award.

“Stonebridge Wild River Reserve is a magical place, and we hope lots of people enjoy this beautiful spot. If we win, the £2,000 will go towards more habitat restoration, principally developing the meadow for wildflowers.”