FOUR Wiltshire projects that benefit the environment have been honoured by the Ministry of Defence at a national awards ceremony.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation, the MoD’s land and services provider, holds the Sanctuary Awards each year to recognise work which promotes sustainable development, energy-saving measures, wildlife, archaeology, environmental improvement or community awareness of conservation on the MoD estate.

This year four projects, all based on Salisbury Plain, scooped prizes including the top award – the coveted Silver Otter trophy, which went to The Raptor and Owl nest box project.

The project, staffed by volunteers, has been working to conserve birds for more than 30 years by providing nesting boxes.

The dedicated team monitor, record, repair and clean around 500 nest boxes on the Plain and a further 600 in the Pewsey Vale, Nadder, Avon and Wylye Valleys.

Recycled timber is used to provide the boxes at minimum to no cost and information collected about the birds is used to inform the long-term management of habitats.

This year’s awards were presented by Defence Minister Anna Soubry and Defence Infrastructure Organisation chief executive Richard McCarthy.

Ms Soubry said: “Our priority must always be to support service men and women on operations, but, by promoting sustainability through our work today, we can ensure that we are better able to support the armed forces in the years to come.”

Operation Nightingale exercise Tally Ho! won the Heritage Projects Award.

The project involved injured military personnel excavating a Spitfire brought down on Salisbury Plain during the Battle of Britain. The project scooped the award in recognition of its achievements in archaeology and custodianship of the MoD estate.

The Sustainability Award was won by Project Ubique, which has replaced a series of public rights of way on the Plain with more sustainable routes which will allow the public to continue enjoying the site alongside military activities.

The Individual Award went to Paul Castle for his two decades of involvement in the Salisbury Plain Raptor Conservation and Monitoring project.

The project covers the whole Plain and sees volunteers braving all weathers to go out and count roost sites.

Thanks to this continuous monitoring, the Plain is established as one of the most important wintering sites for hen harriers in the UK.