A SEARCH for the people who maintain York's most wildlife-friendly churchyards and cemeteries has been launched by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

The Living Churchyards Award 2003 aims to recognise people who have invested time and effort into creating these rich havens for plants and animals.

The npower-sponsored awards include a number of categories for urban and rural churchyards around the city as well as for the churchyard team who have made the best progress.

Michael Krause, of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, said: "We are delighted to be working with npower once again to deliver this scheme.

"The volunteers do so much work to support and encourage wildlife in churchyards it is great to be able to recognise them in this way."

Kevin Rodgers, npower Yorkshire community relations manager, said that by improving the local environment people could preserve it for future generations.

He said: "The Living Churchyards Awards are a great way of thanking people who are helping us to do this by cultivating the excellent environments that churchyards offer to wildlife."

To enter the awards send a description of the work and photographs to Living Churchyards Awards, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, 10 Toft Green, York YO1 6JT before July 31.

Updated: 09:41 Friday, April 25, 2003