Volunteers working on a river project have secured a funding grant.

The River Wey Society and partners are working to improve the passage of fish and river quality on the River Wey. Now its volunteer members have won a Wessex Watermark Award of £500 for their ongoing work to improve the biodiversity of the river.

This award will help improve spawning gravels in the Nottington section of the river.

Paul Coggins from Wessex Water met members of the society, including their advisor Roger Genge and its chairman Peter Tarrant, to present them with their Watermark Award on Wednesday.

The society will work with the Wild Trout Trust and local landowners to protect the bank from erosion while installing woody debris structures along the river course, to vary river flow and increase biodiversity along a 1.5 kilometre stretch of river.

Roger Genge said: “The River Wey is one of the smallest river systems in England.

“It is 8.8 kilometres long but for its short length it has a comparatively large surface catchment area and is home to a wide range of coarse and salmonid fish species.

“We are working with the Environment Agency, the Wild Trout Trust, Dorset County Council and PGL – Osmington (outdoor education provider) to manage the flow of the river and increase the passage of its fish.”

In its 20 years, the Watermark Award has supported more than 900 environmental initiatives. Organised by The Conservation Foundation, all projects are judged by a panel chaired by its president David Bellamy.