Green has turned to gold for Lyme Regis after environmental efforts earned the town Dorset's first ever Pride of Place Award. The Turn Lyme Green campaign to raise awareness and inspire action towards more environmental responsibility among residents was selected ahead of 13 other community entries from across Dorset.

The photo shows Maggie Bolt, Director of Public Art South West, presenting the Pride of Place Award to Turn Lyme Green members Candida Blaker and Mark Jenkin.

The Pride of Place Award was launched this year by the Dorset Design and Heritage Forum to complement the long-standing Best Kept Village and Village of the Year awards. A panel of judges chaired by Maggie Bolt, Director of Public Art South West, assessed the applications, and the winners were announced in a ceremony at Sturminster Marshall. The forum was developed by the Dorset Strategic Partnership's Culture Theme Group. Chairman Roderick Knight said:

"The judges were looking for the Dorset parish or town council or local community partnership that takes the most pride in its local environment and heritage. This will be a unique opportunity for Lyme Regis to highlight its distinctiveness and sense of place."

Winning the award now gives Turn Lyme Green the opportunity to work with an artist in residence over the next 12 months, on a special project to the value of more than £4,000. In its submission, the group said working with an artist would enable them to think in fresh and different ways about what they were trying to achieve.

The Dorset Design and Heritage Forum's purpose is to bring together a range of organisations and interests with the aim of championing high quality design and conservation of the built environment. The Pride of Place Award is part of a wider programme of work for which the forum has achieved external funding from Arts Council England, Public Art South West and the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership.

The award will be offered again next year. On 16 May 2009 a workshop will be held to help community groups develop their applications and artists to learn more about this way of working. (Venues and details to be confirmed)