Wilding Wimborne is one of 13 projects to receive a share of £16,000 funding from Wessex Water.

The Wessex Water Environment Fund was launched in a partnership with the Dorset Community Foundation in June 2020.

Having persuaded Wimborne Town Council to stop using pesticides, carrying out tree and flower planting and creating a bee trail with 11 bee homes, Wilding Wimborne will now be creating homes for small mammals like hedgehogs and for birds including swifts and house martins.

It will also continue its tree-planting programme.

Co-founder Linda Bunting said: “People don’t realise how important trees are for insects. They probably provide the majority of their food. We are working with the council to plant some smaller trees by the River Stour and we are reintroducing black poplars, which used to be around here, around the rivers and in some of the large estates.”

The group, which received £1,500, is also aiming to work with young people to heighten their awareness through family activities and a photographic competition.

Mrs Bunting said they were thrilled to get the grant.

She said: “We have been running everything on a shoestring and it will be lovely to be able to put some really decent leaflets out and some good events on to raise even more awareness.”

Dorset Men of the Trees in Bovington will also be using some of its £1,500 grant to continue its tree-planting programme, including 1,000 saplings at a willow carr – a wetland woodland – at Lulworth.

The group will also continue its My Life My Tree project with rural primary schools. The Friendly Food Club will run 14 interactive cookery demonstrations in Gillingham and Shaftsbury with its £1,400 grant.

Grounded Community in Bournemouth will use its £1,500 grant to maintain its community gardens in the town, which provide fresh vegetables and fruit for struggling families. The grant will also fund its community compost scheme that uses food waste to produce its Rocket Compost.

Beaminster School has been awarded £1,500 to create a wildflower meadow, and wildlife pond after gaining inspiration from meadows and nature reserves nearby.

Plush Paddock Charitable Incorporated Organisation will use its £1,500 grant to maintain and improve hedgerows and grassland at the beauty spot near Dorchester.

Dorset Community Foundation director Grant Robson said: “This is the third year we have run this fund with Wessex Water’s generous support and it is really heartening for us that its continued trust in our expertise and local knowledge delivers exactly the types of applications and engagement it is looking for.”