A PROJECT to preserve rare butterflies in the Painswick Valley has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

More than 240 projects were entered into the 2015 Biffa Awards in five categories.

The Painswick scheme, which aims to restore and conserve habitat for butterflies, will now compete against three other organisations for the chance to be named winner of the rebuilding biodiversity title and to receive a £1,500 prize.

The Butterfly Conservation project received £48,566 in funding from the Biffa Awards for the improvement and restoration of grassland habitat to help re-establish the large blue and Duke of Burgundy butterfly species in the valley.

Scrub has been cleared on 11 project sites and practical conservation work, volunteer work parties and management have targeted grazing, scrub management and planting, while funds have also been used to enable local nurseries to grow cowslip and wild thyme, both food plants for the larval stage.

The project has had a positive impact on the community in a variety of ways, from improving the area for walkers, to involving volunteers in work parties.

The awards ceremony, at which the winner will be announced, will take place on October 1 at the Coventry Transport Museum.