THE centrepiece of a memorial garden commemorating villagers who lost their lives during military service has been honoured at an annual environment awards.

The Brothers at War sculpture at Witton Park, which celebrates the lives of the Bradford Brothers came out top in the craftsmanship category in this year’s County Durham Environment Awards.

Other projects celebrating success include Cornerstone Sensory Garden in Evenwood, which provides a safe place for those with dementia, and the 1st Burnmoor Scouts in Fencehouses, who cleared a derelict site to create a community garden with the help of care home residents, helping prevent social isolation.

The prestigious annual awards, now in their 28th year, are organised by County Durham Environment Partnership to celebrate great design, environmental guardianship and community spirit.

This year saw 53 entries from across County Durham, of which 12 were revealed as category winners and 21 highly commended at a ceremony held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Durham last night.

Other winners included the Crook Hall Visitor Centre, in Durham, which won the built environment title and The Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics, at Durham University, Durham City, which won the climate change award.

The Growing Forward Together project, in Trimdon Station, won the Community Partnership category and Bale Hill, Dene Burn and Four Lane Ends Woods, in Castleside, won the natural environment award.

In the volunteer category, Alan Leathard, of Stanley, won the over 18s title, while the under 18s award was shared between 1st Burnmoor Scouts and Young Firefighters, in Sacriston and the volunteer group award when to Van Mildert College Outreach, at Durham University.

In2Nature, Wingate Nursery School and Wheatley Hill Community Forest and Beach Club were joint winners of the Schools and Colleges award.

Oliver Sherratt, Chair of the County Durham Environment Partnership, said: “These awards are a unique opportunity to celebrate the fantastic achievements of people who dedicate their time to improve the environment in County Durham”.

He added: “Once again we have seen a wide range of excellent projects and I never fail to be impressed by the commitment of those individuals and groups who give up their time to make County Durham a better place for people to live and visit.”

Cllr Simon Henig, Chair of the County Durham Partnership, said: “These awards are a great way to shine a light on those individuals and groups who make a real difference to our county and they should be very proud of their achievements.”