A Hatherleigh-based environmental group was named the winner of BBC Devon’s Make A Difference Award, environment category last week.

Sustainable Hatherleigh was presented with the award last Friday (September 25) at Buckfast Abbey where the award final took place. Other finalists from across Devon also attended the event to hear the winners of the eight Make A Difference Award categories: the Community Group Award, the Fundraiser Award, the Environmental Award, the Young Hero Award, the Animal Award, the Active Award, the Volunteer Award and the Great Neighbour Award.

The group was up against Bow’s Growing Well Garden, The Sampford Peverell Tree Wardens in mid-Devon, and Charles Staniland at Shallowford Farm on Dartmoor. Environmental documentary-maker Simon Reeve judged the category.

Joanna Pullin from Sustainable Hatherleigh, said: “I’m absolutely delighted and I’m really proud of all the volunteers. It’s a really good time for us to win. We’ve got a lot of support and lots of things coming up.”

The group is working to set up a library of things so that residents can borrow items they may need temporarily rather than buy them. It is currently sorting the paperwork, organising storage containers and collecting useful items, such as gardening equipment, ready for opening in January.

Sustainable Hatherleigh has also organised a water quality testing training session which will take place next month. It hopes to be able to recruit volunteers for regular water testing in the River Lew. Joanna added that residents have noted that the river’s water quality has worsened over the years and have become particularly concerned after data revealed sewage spills were three times higher than the national average. Research into a possible community compost scheme is also underway.

Simon Chudley, landlord of Okehampton’s London Inn, was also nominated for the Make A Difference Awards and came runner-up in the Great Neighbour category.

Make A Difference Awards are presented to local people and groups who are making a positive contribution to people in their communities.