A WILDLIFE group celebrating its 50th anniversary has received a huge cash boost.

Sussex Wildlife Trust has successfully bid for £95,220 from the ScottishPower Foundation to support its education programme at Woods Mill, on the Shoreham Road in Henfield.

The is the Trust’s flagship nature reserve and the funding will allow Sussex Wildlife Trust to deliver ten specialist wildlife identification courses, train 250 wildlife champions and establish a young naturalists club to engage the next generation in wildlife and conservation.

Some of the money has already been spent on a camera in the kestrel nesting box which offers members of the public the chance to watch the progress of the young chicks.

Trustees from the Foundation visited the site to meet with staff.

Sarah Mistry, one of the trustees, said: “It was fantastic to see the Sussex Wildlife Trust in action and learn more about the impact that the programme will have for everyone in the local area and visitors from further afield, especially young people.

“The ScottishPower Foundation is committed to supporting projects that enrich communities and help organisations realise their visions for the future.”

Woods Mill was opened to the public 50 years ago on June 8 1968 and has since welcomed tens of thousands of people to learn about its environment.

Carole Nicholeson, chairman of Sussex Wildlife Trust said: “I should like to thank ScottishPower Foundation for its amazing financial support that is allowing us not only to celebrate the anniversary of 50 years at Woods Mill nature reserve but will also allow us to make habitat improvements for wildlife.

“This will include restoration of the reed bed and we also plan to enhance the visitor experience by improving path access.

“So many more people will be able to enjoy and learn about wildlife and because of the support of ScottishPower Foundation we will really be able to take nature conservation to the next generation.”

The ScottishPower Foundation has donated more than £1million to charitable projects across the UK this year, from Aberdeen to Sussex.

The Sussex Wildlife Trust is the county’s leading nature conservation organisation, managing more than 5,000 acres of prime woodland, heathland, wetland and meadow habitat including some of the finest wild places in Sussex.

It speaks out on conservation issues aiming to influence decisions of local, regional and national authorities.

It also engages with farmers and landowners to ensure wildlife is not restricted to its nature reserves but can move freely.