DIVERSE projects such as clearing brambles and weeds to bee keeping, and the restoration of a sea lock were recognised in the annual awards from the North Devon Conservation Society.

The awards ceremony took place in Barnstaple Guildhall to a packed house. A record 38 entries were received and the standard was extremely high.

Winners were presented with their certificates and awards by the society's president, Lady Arran.

The Society exists to encourage high standards of architecture, planning and preservation, as well as a caring attitude towards the beauty, character and environment of the area.

The annual awards recognise projects which have contributed to the promotion and understanding of conservation.

Chairman John Wilsher said: "It is not a competition. We celebrate excellence and try to give other people and schools ideas so they generate more enthusiasm. But when it is something very special we have a couple of trophies that acknowledge that."

Awards and certificates were presented to: primary schools — Pilton Infants School (Junior Cashmore Cup) for the creation of a secret garden and outdoor classroom; Hartland Primary School for using the Forest School approach; Fremington Primary School for creating a playground garden and woodland; Abbotsham School and Bideford College for their work on recycling; Ilfracombe Infant and Nursery School for the innovative Potter the Otter energy conservation award; Swimbridge Primary School for the formation of a conservation area; Woolsery Primary School for their enthusiastic adoption of Forest schooling; Marwood Primary School for creating a sensory garden and small pond; Kentisbury Primary School for their work on recycling and the creation of natural habitat; Instow Primary School for creating a wildflower garden, willow structures and growing vegetables for school use; Pilton Bluecoat Junior School for their organic garden and forest school activities; Orchard Vale Community School for their work in developing their own allotment; Holsworthy Primary School for halving their 'rubbish-to-landfill' in two years; Bratton Fleming Primary School for recycling, creating a wildlife pond and garden and hatching chickens.

Senior Schools — Lampard Community School for clearing brambles on an old allotment to create wildlife area and raising plants from seed; West Buckland School for planting 1,625 native broad-leaf trees to celebrate the school's 150th year; Shebbear College for creating a conservation area to attract wildlife and initiating a Fairtrade tuckshop; Bideford College (the Cashmore Senior Cup) for taking conservation into the community, linked with primary schools; Kingsley School for creating a new conservation garden dedicated to the memory of Charlotte Shaw; St Michael's School for numerous conservation activities including a forest classroom and bee keeping. Building restorations — Hilary and Adrian Wills (the Taw and Torridge Shield) for restoration of a sea lock at Landcross; Gerry Goodwin for the restoration of the Hoops Inn, Horns Cross, after a major fire; Woolfardisworthy Community and Sports Hall (North Devon AONB Coastal Award for the Built Environment) for installing energy-saving measures — wind turbine, geothermal heat pump and photo-voltaic panels — at the hall; John Rous of Clovelly Estate for building restoration and new gates at Home Lodge, Clovelly Court; East Worlington Parish Hall Management Committee for their restoration of the Parish Hall — a 17th century tithe barn — using traditional materials. Heritage projects — Pat and Margaret Pidler (highly commended) for their collection of domestic and farming items; Jonathan and Fiona Waterer (Heritage Shield) for their traditional horse farm at Higher Biddacott, Chittlehampton; Stephen Hobbs for the Hartland Digital Archive; Instow Community Bank Project Group for repairing the wall and bank by St John the Baptist Church, Instow; East Worlington Parish Council with the British Legion for their restoration of the War Memorial Plinth as a traditional Devon bank. Wildlife projects — Hilary and Adrian Wills (highly commended) for a wildlife site on land between Halfpenny Bridge, Weare Giffard, and for the sea lock at Landcross; Shebbear Parish Council (Endymion Shield) for the countryside area at Rowden Farm including tree planting and the creation of a pond; apprentices from Western Power Distribution for renewing 200 steps and relocating paths at Chapel Wood, Spreacombe. Community projects — Mavis Rogers for her blitz on Japanese Knotweed at Lee Valley; The Children's Summer Club (Richard Hilson Memorial Cup) for creating murals at Barnstaple Cemetery; Children's Hospice South West for creating a multi-sensory garden; The Residents' Association at Bowering Court, Barnstaple, for environmental planting; Coastwise North Devon (the President's Shield and the North Devon AONB Award for the Natural Environment) for work on coastal education, conservation and research.