NEW Nature and Climate Challenge Fund for the North Devon Coast
Community groups, schools, businesses and parishes are invited to apply to the “Nature and Climate Challenge Fund”. Grants of up to £4,000 are available for projects within the coastal parishes of the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, an area which runs from Combe Martin along the coast to Welcombe.
The aim of the Challenge fund is to support the best proposals for communities to do their bit for wildlife, for climate or for people to deliver the following objectives:
- Conserve and enhance the natural environment
- Protect or improve habitats for wildlife
- Help communities to understand and engage with nature
- Encourage ‘reduce; re-use; recycle’ principles
- Support the use of or generation of renewable energy
- Encourage walking and cycling
- Improve physical access to the coast and countryside
Example projects could include digging a pond, creating a nature area in school or playgroup grounds for growing/learning, planting hedges or trees in your local parish, adding sustainable and native plants to local parks, nature interpretation boards, bike racks and cycle routes, improved physical access, electric car charging points, solar panels etc. where they benefit the community.
Jenny Carey-Wood, AONB Manager, said “We are delighted to support community initiatives that make improvements for wildlife, address the climate challenge or help people to enjoy, understand and engage with nature. This fund can support actions to complement the Devon Local Nature Partnership’s Wild About Devon initiative and the forthcoming Biosphere Nature Recovery Plan.”
The 14 eligible parish areas this grant scheme may cover are: Abotsham, Alwington, Appledore, Berrynarbor, Braunton, Clovelly, Combe Martin, Georgeham (& Croyde), Hartland, Ilfracombe, Mortehoe (& Woolacombe), Northam, Welcombe and Westward Ho!
Applications are open NOW with a deadline of Monday 26th July with projects needing to be completed by the end of February 2022. Check out the AONB website for more information: www.northdevoncoast-nl.org.uk/our-work/grants or contact Laura Carolan on 01271 388628 or aonb@devon.gov.uk to discuss.
