DUE to her devotion to the cause of hill ponies, Charlotte Faulkner was the proud receiver of the 13th Dartmoor Society Award.

Charlotte has for more than ten years, spearheaded a campaign to give the traditional hill ponies of Dartmoor recognition for their importance to the grazing management of the moor, and their qualities as riding pets so that they obtain fair prices at the annual pony sales.

She established the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association and the Friends of the Dartmoor Hill Pony from her Dartmoor farm base, and her ponies are well-known at the Devon County Show. Each year she also organises the fundraising 50-mile Dartmoor Challenge.

Charlotte was presented the award by chairman Dr Tom Greeves at the society's AGM held at Manaton earlier this month.

The award is made annually to individuals or groups who, in the opinion of the society, have made a special contribution to Dartmoor.

Dr Greeves said: 'Charlotte's enthusiasm and passion for the hill ponies of Dartmoor is inspirational, and her work on their behalf, which has successfully raised their profile nationally and beyond, is hugely admired by all who have an interest in the future of Dartmoor's most iconic, well-tempered, and ecologically best adapted beasts. It gives me enormous pleasure to present this award on behalf of the Dartmoor Society and indeed the wider Dartmoor community.'