A DILAPIDATED mill, a village history book and an ancient woodland were among eight projects to benefit from more than £1 million this week.

The Countryside Agency grants promise to transform community projects throughout the West Midlands.

The money has been awarded as part of the Local Heritage Initiative, aimed at researching the archaeology, geology and ancestry of historic sites in the region.

Organisations that have benefited include:

- The Four Parishes Archaeology Group, which comprises the villages of Pinvin, Wyre Piddle, Hill and Moor, Bishampton/Throckmorton. It was formed after Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman finds were discovered during the construction of Wyre Piddle bypass. They have received £7,210 to investigate further.

- Pepperwood Community Woodland Group, hopes to use its £11,108 grant to make the historical wood more accessible to the public, hold events and produce a circular walk and self-guided trails. Pepperwood - which is 54 hectares of semi-natural woodland - dates back to the middle ages and was named after a Saxon chieftain.

- Herefordshire & Worcestershire RIGS - Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites - Group. It has received £13,390 to identify sites of landscape interest for educational and public use.

- The Wichenford Local History Group received £23,999. The village has a 12th Century church and Roman remains have been discovered, so the grant will be used to investigate their parish heritage further.

- Cradley Village Hall Management Committee was given £11,886 to uncover their village's past.

- Austen Village Preservation Society, which works to preserve the village built for World War One munitions workers outside Birmingham, received £9,136.

- Dodderhill Parish Survey Project Group, which received £3,625 to investigate the early development and landscape of the parish.

- Wyre Forest District Council, which gained £25,000 to renovate a dilapidated mill, on the River Stour, in Kidderminster's Broadwaters Park.

"The old mill had been vandalised so we used the money to repair the building and bring the area up to scratch in terms of health and safety," said Lesley Fox, community development officer and co-ordinator of the project.

"It will also help fund new lighting along the footpath, repair the weirs and employ a professional artist for the area."

The council is also collaborating closely with the community, including working with local schools such as St Oswald's C of E First School and Wolverley High School, and holding meetings with residents at the local pub.

"One resident, Betty Park, has written a local history book and we have a camcorder club which is making a film about the area."

Chris Tomlin, countryside agency officer for the Local Heritage Initiative, was pleased with how well local areas had responded to the scheme.

"The scope and variety of the projects has amazed us and along the way most of the groups seem to have thoroughly enjoyed finding out more about their history and surroundings," he said.

"We're still accepting applications and we're keen to hear from more people interested in setting up projects like this."

For more information, contact Mr Tomlin at The Countryside Agency on 0121 233 9399.