The organisations' Managing a Masterpiece bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund's Landscape Partnership Scheme was a success and they have also won a further £67,000 development funding grant.

Fifteen projects covering archaeology, biodiversity and conservation of historic features in the valley are included in the bid and three new members of staff will be appointed.

"This is the first Landscape Partnership award in the East of England, and will be of enormous benefit to those who live and work in the Stour Valley," said Simon Amstutz, operations manager for the Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Project.

"We are thrilled that our partners are putting in a further £100,000, which together with in-kind contributions from volunteers, brings the funding to £1.1m."

The Stour Valley has long inspired artists and writers. Managing a Masterpiece consists of three programmes to understand, conserve and celebrate the landscape. These will focus on "heritage hotspots" around Clare, Sudbury, Bures, Stoke-by-Nayland and Dedham.

"The projects include the return of the Constable Country hopper bus, successfully piloted in 2005, restoring views made famous by artists, and using churches as viewpoints and information centres.

Guides for walking and cycling will be published, archaeological excavations made and help given to the restoration of the John Constable lighter in the dry dock at Flatford.

Robyn Llewellyn, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund East of England, said: "The English countryside is famed around the world and the Stour Valley represents one of our finest examples; inspiring not only local people and visitors, but celebrated artists such as Gainsborough and Constable."

The bid was developed by the Project in partnership with the archaeological departments at Essex and Suffolk county councils, and is overseen by a board of 20 organisations representing interests in the Stour Valley. Implementation will be over three years, from November 2009.