A BOTANIST who has dedicated more than 50 years to the study of plants has been named as the first ever winner of The Pendlebury Award.

Dr Margaret Bradshaw, from Eggleston, near Barnard Castle, collected the award in honour of her work championing the area’s flora.

The award was established by the North Pennines AONB Partnership in memory of the its first chairman, the late Bob Pendlebury.

Dr Bradshaw is well known for her research into the plants of upper Teesdale – a passion which led to a doctorate from Durham University and an MBE in recognition of her services to conservation.

She said: “I’m honoured to be the first winner of The Pendlebury Award and I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me.”

Other nominees included Paul Bassingdale, who was nominated for his conservation work with red squirrels; June Crosby, who is a founder of The Weardale Society; and geologist Brian Young, who was involved in the creation of the North Pennines Geopark.

Dr Bradshaw was nominated for the award by dale farmer Richard Betton, who called her “the ultimate fount of knowledge” on the Teesdale Assemblage, a group of rare plants found growing on the Widdybank National Nature Reserve and surrounding area.

Chris Woodley-Stewart, director of the AONB Partnership, said: “It is a real honour to be able to publicly thank two inspirational people – Bob and Margaret.

“During his lifetime Bob did some outstanding work to promote the landscape of the North Pennines.

“I think he would have wholeheartedly approved of Margaret being our first winner of The Pendlebury Award.”