PROJECTS have been recognised for their outstanding contribution to the environment and community in a prestigious awards ceremony.

Museum in the Park's Walled Garden Project, Frampton-on-Severn's The Green Shop and the Stroud Rural Sustainable Drainage Project are amongst those to have been recognised in the annual Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Gloucestershire Awards.

Recently completed projects which which have made an outstanding contribution to the community are recognised in the awards, which were launched in 2007.

Awards were presented to recipients at a special ceremony at the Gambier Parry Hall at Highnam, Gloucestershire, yesterday (Tuesday).

Richard Lloyd, spokesman for CPRE said: “We are delighted to be able to make seven awards this year to a very diverse range of projects, all outstanding in their way.

"It is good to be able to celebrate the inspiration and efforts of all those involved in these considerable achievements.”

Museum in the Park's Walled Garden Project saw a new garden and learning centre created with the help of volunteers and the community.

For years the Grade ll-listed walled garden lay hidden and abandoned behind the Museum in the Park but it is now fully accessible.

The Walled Garden opens to the public this Saturday (October 8th). Meanwhile The Green Shop in Frampton has been recognised for its contribution to the rural community.

The Frampton Court Estate provided an area of land for a new shop on Frampton’s famous village green, and financially supported building the shop, which is run as a commercial business.

Great care has been taken with the design - the building is largely of timber, with materials sourced from the Estate.

The shop stocks local produce, and villagers showcase arts and crafts. There are now plans to re-establish a Post Office there.

A leading project in natural flood management was also recognised - the Stroud Rural Sustainable Drainage Project.

The project, set up in response to the 2007 floods, is run by Stroud District Council in partnership with Gloucestershire County Council and the Environment Agency.

It involves working closely with landowners and partners such as Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, the National Trust and the University of Gloucestershire to implement and publicise a range of simple measures to slow the rate that water flows in streams that run into the River Frome, reducing the risk of flooding downstream.