THE winners of the inaugural National Trust Beatrix Potter Awards have been announced.

Taking place at the Lindeth Howe Hotel in Windermere, the awards were the final part of the National Trust's year of celebration to mark what would have been Beatrix Potter's 150th birthday.

Prizes were awarded for eight different categories, including story illustration, looking after landscape, local hero, community business, farming with nature, looking after Beatrix's legacy and Herdwick champion.

John Moffat, general manager for South Lakes and Beatrix Potter properties said: "We have been delighted with the response to our first National Trust Beatrix Potter Awards and would like to congratulate all the winners and the runners-up.

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"It shows just how relevant Beatrix is today, even 150 years after her birth."

Each nominee and winner enjoyed a locally sourced lunch at the Lindeth Howe Hotel, once owned by Beatrix Potter.

The winners of the illustration award also received £25 worth of books each from Penguin Random House.

All the winners received a certificate and a special award, sourced from one of the woodlands on Beatrix’s estate.

Richard Speirs, from the Watchtree Nature Reserve, which won the award for Looking after Landscape said that it recognised the 'commitment and volunteer involvement' which was essential to the development of the site after foot and mouth hit.

"It is now a thriving, well-visited nature reserve and cycling trail community asset," he said.