THE FOUNDER of Amesbury's Community Mask Tree project, which has become popular across the length and breadth of the UK, has been recognised by the Prime Minister.

Amesbury resident, Naomi Betts, 46, has received Boris Johnson's daily Points of Light award for setting up a network of mask trees to give people easy access to reusable face coverings.

The keen sewer, who lives on London Road, was inspired by a similar project in the Czech Republic.

She created her own tree using a coat stand back in May and in just three months, went on to encourage thousands of others to create their own in their own communities.

She said: "I am truly honoured to be given this award and accept it on behalf of the army of sewing and non-sewing volunteers who helped to turn the single 'Community Mask Tree' on my driveway into a National Forest of 'Community Mask Trees'.

"Collectively, the forest of more than 400 trees has achieved things I could never have done alone. We have delivered more than 180,000 handmade cloth masks into the heart of our communities all over the UK, making cloth face coverings available and accessible to all for free, and whilst we accepted voluntary donations towards material costs, we adopted a not-for-profit approach and have been able to give excess donations of more than £300,000 to a huge variety of charities in the last three months.

"My biggest reward has been the connections I have forged within my own immediate community and the wider Mask Tree community during a time that could have left me feeling so isolated and helpless."

More recently, Naomi has been involved in the mask-up of Amesbury Ancestor to encourage mask wearing.

She has also been very vocal in promoting the use of washable face coverings as opposed to single-use ones to safeguard the environment and reduce litter.

John Glen, MP for Salisbury, said: “I am delighted to hear that Naomi is getting the recognition she deserves for the brilliant work she’s done to get face coverings to so many people across the country. Salisbury and South Wiltshire is proud of her.”

The Prime Minister’s UK daily Points of Light award was first launched in April 2014 to recognise outstanding individuals making a difference where they live. Naomi is the 1457th person to be recognised. As the UK unites to fight the spread of coronavirus, the award is focusing exclusively on people serving their community through the pandemic.