RESIDENTS in Berry Hill are "delighted" that their efforts to support the local community have been recognised nationally after the village was crowned UK Neighbourhood of the Year for 2021.

The village came out on top in a national campaign called The Good Neighbourhood Awards last month, during which just under 5000 nominations were received from communities across the country.

Villagers said they were proud to receive widespread recognition for their efforts to "support, encourage and grow" their community amid the challenges of the past year.

The annual awards, which are organised by online neighbourhood network Nextdoor, allow residents to nominate their neighbours, local people, businesses and community groups who as a whole have come together to support others in their area.

Certificates to mark the win were presented to some of the residents behind key community initiatives by Nextdoor ambassador and TV presenter Konnie Huq, who visited the village last week.

As part of the win, Nextdoor will be donating a local beautification project to the village worth up to £1000.

The network will work with key members of the community to help finalise the project and begin the work.

Forest of Dean District Council Leader and Berry Hill resident Tim Gwilliam, said: "My fellow Councillor Jamie Elsmore and I are delighted that our ward and village of Berry Hill has been named as Neighbourhood of the year 2021.

"The community spirit and initiatives put together by residents has been nothing short of incredible.

"This sense of community has been echoed in towns and villages throughout the Forest and I hope that the entire Forest will share the pride in the award that we have in Berry Hill.

"It is particularly pleasing in this year of all years that the Forest’s stoicism and indomitable spirit has been recognised.

"I look forward to seeing the great work from Nextdoor and the Berry Hill community in the near future."

Throughout lockdown, Berry Hill residents continued to organise outdoor events to "keep everyone’s spirits lifted", including running a popular scarecrow trail, for which locals were encouraged to make and display their own scarecrows, and an Easter tractor rally which people could watch safely from their homes.

Volunteers also gave up their spare time to help refurbish Berry Hill Social Club so that the venue could be used as a meeting point and event space post-lockdown.

Berry Hill Rugby Club provided outdoor youth activities which were also open to the surrounding neighbourhoods, and raised funds to purchase and install two defibrillators in disused community phone boxes.

The phone booths were painted blue by members of the community to show support for NHS workers, and locals have also started to use them to donate their unwanted items such as books and seed packets.

The post office now hosts a free community library where people can donate and borrow books, and the village’s community orchard has been continuously maintained by volunteers for the benefit of wildlife and local people.

Roisin O’Neil, Head of UK Community at Nextdoor, said: "We felt that as a community, Berry Hill residents have clearly pulled together throughout lockdown to support everyone in the neighbourhood, as well as undertaking a number of great initiatives to grow and support their local area.

"The kindness, enthusiasm and pride of the people in Berry Hill shone through in their nominations and we’re so happy to announce it as our Neighbourhood of the Year."