AN ORGANISATION dedicated to supporting nature has been awarded the first Social Enterprise Mark, which recognises the quality of its work.

Nature Workshops is a not-for-profit group aiming to find a solution to issues such as climate change, war and poverty.

Its director is former Kerrier councillor for Porthleven, Jane Acton. She and her organisation were assisted in achieving the social enterprise mark by Rubina Khan and Bryn Hackland, who run Enterprise Facilitation in west Cornwall, part of the Cornwall Development Company. This community-based volunteer group encourages economic growth and has been a client of Miss Khan and Mr Hacklands'.

Miss Khan said the mark was "a brand for social enterprises which is a mark of quality for organisations for their work and commitment to people and the planet".

Mrs Acton was "overjoyed" at being the first such group to gain the award and added: "We're honoured to receive this and hopefully this will inspire others to reach for the mark of excellence."

Nature Workshops was recently instrumental in dozens of trees being planted at Porthleven and Parc Eglos, Helston, schools as part of a project to help children appreciate the world around them. About 100 were planted in all, among more than 400 new trees which were later planted around Cornwall over the following weeks.