A CONSERVATION project in Adderbury has been given a £50,000 boost thanks to a waste firm.

Villagers launched a £70,000 appeal last November to restore the 18th century Adderbury Lakes, believed to have been first designed by the renowned gardener Capability Brown or one of his students.

Public donations and cash from Adderbury Parish Council totalled £8,000, but the project has been given a massive £50,000 boost from the Viridor Credits scheme.

The lakes are in a poor state with years of accumulated silt and are at only 20 per cent water capacity.

Now residents will make a final push to raise the last £12,000 to complete the project and are appealing for donations. Project leader Mike Dolamore said: “We are keen to restore the lakes in the most eco-friendly way we can.

“We are eco-dredging the lakes and hoping not to take any of the silt off site – instead using it to create new wetland and meadow areas to help improve the wildlife.

“In addition, we are improving pathways with existing timber.

“The whole project is costing around £70,000 and we were thrilled to receive such a generous donation from Viridor Credits.”

More than 3,000 people visit the lakes each year, including school children, to fish or learn about the local wildlife.

The cash from Viridor Credits Environmental Company will pave the way for work to start to restore the lakes to their former glory.

Lisa Nelson, general manager of Viridor Credits, an independent, not-for-profit organisation which supports projects from the Landfill Communities Fund, said this was the fund’s 10th anniversary.

She said: “The Adderbury Lakes are perfect examples of how LCF monies can be used to help local community projects.

“We are always looking for new applications and look forward to hearing from groups and projects that may be eligible.”

To find out more about Viridor Credits, go to the website viridor-credits.co.uk or call 01823 624656.