THE positive work done by community and voluntary groups in Tynedale was honoured at a county-wide awards ceremony last week.

The Friends of Eastwoods Park group in Prudhoe scooped the best new project award for their Miners Lamp Community Cafe and Hub at the LOVE Northumberland awards ceremony last Thursday, held at Alnwick Garden.

They were among 24 groups, organisations, schools and individuals handed winner, runner-up or highly commended awards by the Duchess of Northumberland in the10th year of the awards, which celebrate the very best in community and voluntary environmental work.

The Miners Lamp community hub and cafe has brought to a derelict former bowls pavilion in Eastwoods Park, Prudhoe, back to life. In the same category, Heddon Branches received highly commended smaller project for its Victrix Tree Sculpture and the highly commended larger project went to Tyne Rivers Trust for its My Tyne – Adopt A Stream project.

Kielder Water Vole Partnership’s Restoring Ratty project, which is reintroducing and establishing a population of water voles back to Kielder, won the Best Coast or Countryside Project award.

Meanwhile the Spetchells Conservation Interest Group, based in Stocksfield, won highly commended smaller project in that category for its Spetchells Habitat Rescue project.

Prudhoe Community High School’s Prudhoe Proud Hill Project Group was runner up in the best young people’s project category, while Mickley First School got runner up in the Schools Go Smarter Sustainable Travel Award.

And Tom Grimwood from Kielder and Edward Milligan from Gunnerton both received highly commended awards for community action.

Tom plays a prominent role in Kielder, at events including the Kielder Rally and Kielder marathons, and as a former member of the parish council.

And Edward has contributed to the local community in the Gunnerton area by way of voluntary work for more than 40 years.

Councillor Ian Hutchinson, civic head of Northumberland County Council, said: “I have been extremely impressed by the quality and breadth of the work highlighted through the awards and thank them all, on behalf of the residents and visitors who benefit.”