A CONSERVATION project has netted a prestigious prize for Dartmoor's Princetown Primary School, writes Jane Honey.

The school was one of five schools in the National Park to be awarded first prize in the Edward Morshead Awards which were officially presented on Tuesday.

The awards are made in recognition of significant contributions to the protection, maintenance and enhancement of the beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the moors, along with understanding and enjoyment of its special qualities.

Princetown School students from Years 5 and 6 took part in a biodiversity project involving both practical conservation work and scientific investigation.

The children's exhibition 'Living with Wildlife' was displayed recently at the High Moorland Visitor Centre in Princetown and showed the achievements of the 140 students involved.

Headteacher Lynne Louden said: 'It's a great accolade — and I believe it's the first time schools have been awarded first prize.

Class teacher Laurie Hill said the Princetown pupils were involved in the protection of the region's heather, which included trips onto the moors, studying the landscape and identifying the plants.

'We cleared spruce trees and burned them so the area was clear for the heather to grow back,' said Mr Hill.

'They loved it, they loved using the tools and particularly loved setting the fires.'

He said the children's work had also caught the eye of Prince Charles who saw it during one of his visits to the Duchy.

The five schools were rewarded with a specially commissioned trophy and cash prize of £250. The children were also presented with the Dartmoor Preservation Association Shield and a £50 cash prize.

The second prize of £150 went to the Ministry of Defence Willsworthy Conservation Group for its work in identifying and recording wildlife and items of historic interest, in addition to providing conservation advice and practical work benefiting the landscape, wildlife and cultural history of Willsworthy Range.

Third prize went to Neil and Gerald Smerdon for their outstanding craftsmanship in carrying out erosion repair and laying natural granite paving on the path to Grimspound.

Commendation certificates were presented to Dartmoor Countryside Access Group for its work in promoting access issues on the moor; the proprietors of Lord's Restaurant in Princetown for their commitment to regeneration and business in the village and Maywyn Wilkinson, an outstanding voluntary warden.

The award winners now go forward to be judged alongside conservation award winners from each of the other eleven national parks in England and Wales.

The awards are presented every two years in memory of Edward Morshead, chairman of the DNPA committee from 1985 to 1989.