AN RSPB initiative aimed at protecting hen harriers in the Trough of Bowland is set to be presented with this year’s National Lottery Award for Best Education Project.

Skydancer, a four-year project, works with schools, communities and the shooting industry to raise awareness and promote the conservation of England’s most threatened bird of prey.

The award will be officially presented at a star-studded award ceremony, which will be broadcast on BBC1 on Friday, September 19, at 10.35pm. The nature conservation organisation will also receive a £2,000 cash prize to spend on the project.

The project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund with a grant of £317,700 and United Utilities, with support from the Forestry Commission.

Selected as one of seven finalists from hundreds of entries, Skydancer emerged the winner after amassing more than 7,500 public votes.

Blanaid Denman, who has run Skydancer since it began in 2011, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve won this award. It’s a fantastic opportunity to highlight the plight of this amazing bird to an audience of millions on TV.”