AN IMPORTANT environmental project at Hutton Roof, near Kirkby Lonsdale, will get off the ground thanks to a 4,100 award from the Powergen Environment Fund.

It will go to the Hutton Roof Crags nature reserve, which contains some of the finest limestone pavement in Britain, and also harbours a wealth of rare plants and animals.

The site is also an important home for fritillary butterfly, including the rare and declining high brown and pearl-bordered fritillaries.

The grant will be used as part of Cumbria Wildlife Trust's management programme and will see volunteers and members of the British Trust of Conservation Volunteers replace an area of fencing, carry out coppicing work and monitor the populations of fritillaries at the site.

It will also enable conservation volunteers to gain training and experience through recognised courses. The awards scheme has been running five years and has seen Powergen distribute 50,000 to 20 projects across the UK.