A Warminster blogger who went a year not buying anything new and posting tips to help others recycle old clothes and items has won an award from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

Jen Gale, 37, of Hillwood Lane, was at WWF’s Hidden Heroes awards, which recognise individuals who make a significant and positive difference to the world, on Tuesday night, when she was presented with the trophy for Community Champion and £500 for her blog Make Do and Mend Year.

Mrs Gale, who was at the awards at WWF-UK’s Living Planet Centre in Woking with her husband Ben, said: “I found out I had won just before Christmas and I was amazed.

“They let you know you’ve been nominated and I just thought that’s lovely but I never even thought that I might win.”

The part time vet started her blog in September 2012 after reading an article about someone who had done something similar. She attempted to go a whole year not buying anything new, other than essentials such as food and toiletries, but just repairing and reusing old items.

The mother of sons William, six, and Samuel, three, said: “I think the blog catches people’s imagination because everybody can do a bit of what I post about.

“We all can make a difference, I’m only one person but if there are lots of people doing tiny little things they can all add up.

“Writing everyday was more a challenge than trying not to buy anything to be honest.”

After the success of her blog, which she still updates once or twice a week, Mrs Gale is releasing an e-book with contributions from other bloggers.

Published next month, Make Do and Mend-able Back to Basics offers advice and tips on repairing and recycling things from mending a bike puncture to how to change an electric plug.

Mrs Gale is hoping to use her prize money from WWF, which is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, to run workshops in Warminster where people can learn how to repair electrical and textile items.