Natural England - Grants awarded
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Grants awarded
Grants awarded
Grants awarded in 2010
Other years: 2010 | 2009 | 2008
| Date | Organisation and project name | Brief description of project | Region | Type of Organisation | Amount of grant awarded | % of total cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2010 | Natural Connections
Forest of Avon Trust | Natural Connections will work with a diverse range of people with mental health needs across the former county of Avon. A project co-ordinator will work with both service users and providers to develop an effective programme of events and activities in local woodlands. The benefits of this approach will be promoted, locally regionally and nationally to inform and develop best practice. | South West | Charitable Company limited by guarantee | £166,992 | 79% |
| Feb 2010 | Yorkshire Wildlife Trust -
Creating a Living Landscape in Hull | This project will dramatically increase active community engagement in wild space within some of the most deprived wards in the Region. The Hull Green Corridors are one of a series of Living Landscapes which link together across the UK, to present a holistic approach to re-connecting our urban and rural areas where environment, society and economy co-exist for the benefit of wildlife and people.
The local community is eager to get involved and key wildlife sites and Wards will be targeted for access and biodiversity improvement with an events and volunteering programme will encourage active participation from all ages and groups. | Yorks and Humber | Charitable incorporated organisation | £188,966 | 80% |
| Feb 2010 | The London Wildlife Trust -
Wild London Inclusive London | This project will work with local people and help enhance the biodiversity value of designated green spaces. It will support London Wildlife Trust’s outreach work in Hackney, Southwark, Camden and surrounding areas with the help of Wild London Champions. These Champions will be equipped to lead teams of volunteers and deliver an ongoing programme of activities and events through training and mentoring.
They will encourage people from under-represented communities to use their local green spaces and increase opportunities for local communities to learn new skills and play a more active role in protecting their natural heritage. | South East | Charitable incorporated organisation | £355,277 | 80% |
| Feb 2010 | Cumbria Wildlife Trust -
Barrow’s Wildside | The people of Barrow-in-Furness and Walney Island will be able to discover Barrow’s Wildside through this project dedicated to improving the natural environment and green spaces near their homes. Activities and events will include walks, talks, practical work parties, family fun days and visits to wildlife venues, as well as the chance to pick out neglected places that can be brought back to life.
Barrow’s Wildside will bring people closer to nature. And whilst being active and healthy outdoors, they can learn new skills, gain practical experience and make the place where they live beautiful and full of life. | North West | Charitable Trust | £207,805 | 71% |
| Feb 2010 | Charnwood Borough Council -
Accessing Nature in Charnwood | The aim of this project is to increase the communities’ sense of ownership of, involvement in and enjoyment of local natural places and green spaces. An Access to Nature Officer will work with people from different backgrounds, organising a series of cultural, recreational and educational events aimed at actively engaging participants in countryside activities. This will also include conservation volunteer tasks on a number of green spaces within the Charnwood Forest area. A number of ‘Friends Of’ groups will also be established for local green spaces, and four new Local Wildlife Sites will be declared. | East Mids | Local Authority | £98,740 | 79.3% |
| Feb 2010 | Dorset Wildlife Trust -
Wild about Weymouth and Portland | A healthy natural environment improves quality of life for everyone and ‘Wild About Weymouth and Portland’ will enable people from all parts of the community to take part in healthy outdoor activities. It is a partnership project, led by Dorset Wildlife Trust, that aims to engage the local community and visitors in creating the infrastructure and opportunities that will enable them to learn about, enjoy and help to conserve the natural environment of Weymouth and Portland. The project will also demonstrate the quality and value of the natural environment of Weymouth and Portland as we approach the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and create a lasting legacy for local people and visitors to the area. | South West | Charitable incorporated organisation | £385,870 | 69% |
| Feb 2010 | Groundwork North East -
River Routes in Stockton | ‘River Routes in Stockton’ will provide connectivity within the five towns in the borough with neighbouring water courses, linking key communities together. It will provide a number of circular walks with various access points, bridging the divide between communities with natural assets to explore, enjoy and become passionate about. Two Community Rangers will work with the various community forums to develop physical access proposals, identifying and securing funding for implementation.
This project highlights the significance of the Borough's river corridors and their potential to provide multiple benefits to its local communities. | North East | Charitable trust | £268,690 | 80% |
| Feb 2010 | Luton Council of Faiths -
Faith Woodlands Communities | ‘Faith Woodlands’, based in ancient woodland near to Luton and Bedford, will bring together people of any faith or none, to increase awareness of nature and spiritual issues. The project will take new groups to the woods for walks, picnics and other events, from ecology studies to archery and camping. It will also run a series of visits for schools and adults, with a flexible itinerary designed to stimulate action and creativity - including the cycle of life and regeneration, using trees as a model, bird migration and human migration, silent walks, and more. | East of England | VCS – Religious organisation | £282,204 | 73% |
| Feb 2010 | Islington Play Association -
Finding Nature Through Play | This project will provide children living in Islington with the opportunity to have excellent play opportunities and through this to access, explore and find out more about nature.
Playgrounds will be mini nature reserves and staff and volunteers will be trained in play techniques that will introduce children to the natural world. It will use existing facilities and buildings in a partnership between play professionals, community organisations, the local authority and nature specialists to establish new play activities based on natural play. It will create a menu of physical interventions which will range from ponds, trees and hedges to nesting boxes and ant farms and also publish a booklet on natural play aimed at local schools. | London | Charitable incorporated organisation | £123,000 | 80% |
| Feb 2010 | The Hampton Trust -
Eco for Life Mentoring (ELM) | The aim of this project is to develop a sustainable model of peer and inter-generational Eco Mentoring for vulnerable young people on The Isle of Wight.
It will pair young people under the age of 21 years (25 years if they have additional needs) with volunteers who have a knowledge and passion for the natural world. These volunteer mentors will support each of the young participants to optimise their participation in a 12-week programme of eco workshops. The planned sessions will bring together different organisations and existing individual expertise into a youth-focused co-ordinated programme. Once they have completed their 12 week course, the participants will have an opportunity to take part as ‘Eco Warriors’ in community development in the ten most deprived wards on the island as well as assisting with education schemes. The lessons learned from the development of this Eco Mentoring project will be disseminated on a national basis to help others develop similar schemes. | South East | Charitable Trust | £292,981 | 79% |
| Mar 2010 | Change of Scene
Northampton Borough Council | Change of Scene is a three year project that will encourage 13 – 19 year olds from four deprived Northampton estates to develop an appreciation of the natural environment, which we hope will become life-long. It will pass on the necessary basic skills such as countryside safety and awareness, map reading and first aid and will provide opportunities to participate in a number of outdoor pursuits.
These will include nature photography and art and non-competitive outdoor sports such as walking and hill-walking, canoeing, cycling and mountain biking and rock climbing. Participants will also be encouraged to work towards qualifications in both outdoor pursuits and leadership skills. | East Mids | Local authority | £229,338 | 78% |
| Mar 2010 | Middlesbrough Council -
Boro Becks | The Beck Valleys are a significant landscape feature forming a green and bio-diverse network through dense urban conurbations, but have been undervalued and under-utilised. This project will inspire and motivate communities in Middlesbrough to improve and enjoy the Beck Valleys by providing opportunities to work with the local communities and undertake improvements through a dedicated Becks Team. Through a range of activities including volunteering, Friends groups, community events and activities for young people, the Team will create and promote a pleasant natural environment rich in wildlife.
The Boro Becks Project will be delivered by a partnership between Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency and Middlesbrough Council. | North East | Local authority | £366,537 | 79% |
| Mar 2010 | Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust -
Wildlife in the City | This partnership between Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and Nottingham City Council aims to build sustainable community action and ensure that a generation of Nottingham’s residents has the opportunity to build lifelong connections with green spaces close to where they live.
It will encourage a greater number and diversity of people, who live in deprived wards of Nottingham, to access their local natural green spaces. Two Wildlife in the City Project Officers will work with communities to provide taster sessions, family events and training at natural green spaces across the city. They will also seek to develop new community groups and an innovative on-line forum will provide a hub for groups to share information, knowledge and experience with one another. | East Midlands | Charitable incorporated organisation | £402,706 | 79.3% |
| Mar 2010 | Birmingham City Council -
Perry Common’s Natural World | This project will regenerate the abundance of public green space within Perry Common and work with the local community to develop a greater environmental awareness and appreciation amongst local residents.
Specifically this will include; the transformation of poor quality public open space to provide good quality, attractive, accessible environments with an increase in biodiversity; a range of community, healthy lifestyle and taster events based on the public open spaces; work with young people on the public open spaces to encourage participation in an accredited entry to employment conservation and horticultural training programme; opportunities to work with families through the provision of Forest Schools activities as well as a range of volunteering opportunities. | West Midlands | Public sector – local authority | £387,672 | 18.5% |
| Mar 2010 | Community Environmental Educational Developments,
Sunderland's Green Neighbourhoods (SiGN) | This project will work across Sunderland to enable residents to improve their local environment in order to bring about increased opportunities to access and enjoy nature within their everyday lives.
SiGN will work with six community organisations to develop the project and in particular five community venues and a community nature space will see significant environmental improvements. Local residents will be central to the design and development of the green spaces, with the majority of the practical work carried out by volunteers led by CEED. The green spaces created will be small sites - but crucially are sites at community venues - places already used by the local community but with outdoor space that is currently not optimally used. By enhancing the natural environment in places that residents use day to day, the project will foster an appreciation and enjoyment of the natural environment on their doorstep whilst providing valuable volunteering opportunities for people. It will also improve their chances of being used sustainably by the local community. | North East | Charitable Trust | £183,515 | 80% |
| Mar 2010 | Froglife,
Wildlife Ambassadors | This project aims to identify and train people from Peterborough to become ‘Wildlife Ambassadors’, providing them with the skills and knowledge to make choices in their lives that benefit wildlife. It has grown out of recognition of a current gap in provision for people looking for in-depth training opportunities that are practical, accessible and inclusive. It puts ordinary people at the heart of conservation, making it possible to tackle some seemingly large issues with changes to everyday behaviour. | East of England | Charitable Trust | £167,772 | 80% |
| Mar 2010 | Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
| Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is developing an exciting new project to improve Foxrush Community Woodland in Dormanstown. In response to feedback from the local community, the ‘Making the Connection’ project will enable residents to get more involved with the woodland and will provide woodland volunteer opportunities and educational sessions with local schools and scout groups.
The project will encompass a range of improvements including additional paths, new seating, new signage, wooden sculptures, an entrance feature in sculptured metal, a trim trail, interpretation boards, new bins, wildflower planting, updating the orienteering maps, recruitment of woodland volunteers and pond creation. | North East | Public sector – local government | £100,000 | 86% |
| Apr 2010 | The Waterways Trust
Canal Connections in East Manchester | This project aims to strengthen links between the Rochdale Canal in East Manchester and surrounding communities, increasing local participation, appreciation and care of the canal environment and wildlife. The canal will become a central nature resource for the communities of Newton Heath and Miles Platting, providing an innovative and inspiring programme of activities and projects, specifically developed in partnership with the local community.
The project will increase knowledge of the canal corridor’s biodiversity and increase interaction with the natural environment by involving the local community in the care of the canal environment. It will also provide a range of learning and training opportunities. | North West | Charitable Trust | £124,537 | 80% |
| May 2010 | BTCV
Young Carers Project | This project will work with Young Carers aged between 6 and 25, giving young people organised and supported respite from their usual caring responsibilities. It will also provide opportunities for them to improve their social, communication and team working skills and become involved in educational activities.
Young people will be able to get involved in habitat and public access improvement activities on both urban and rural sites within Somerset, Wiltshire and the area formerly known as Avon. It is hoped the benefits to young taking part will include: increased self-confidence, improvements in their health and wellbeing, helping them to re-engage with their communities and, for some, employment. These are things currently jeopardised by their life situations. The project will also give the parents of the young carers a supported opportunity to help their children to learn about and appreciate wildlife. | South West | Charitable Incorporated organisation | £240,000 | 80% |
| May 2010 | Castleford Heritage Trust,
Fryston Woods Access and Improvements project | This project aims to improve access to and awareness of the natural environment in the Airedale and Fryston areas of Castleford, West Yorkshire, for the local communities and the wider town. It will encourage greater use of the woodlands and new areas of accessible green space by local people to bring about a greater sense of ownership and stewardship of those spaces, as well as bringing people closer to nature for the benefit of their health and well-being. This will be done through increased access to physical activity and through community engagement and key skills. | Yorks and Humber | Charitable Incorporated organisation | £100,000 | 66.5% |
| May 2010 | Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust,
Sea Green! | Torbay's marine environment and coastline is its heart; it drives the tourism industry; is home to one of the country's biggest fishing ports; has three busy harbours and has an incredibly rich and diverse marine environment. However, there can be a real lack of connection with this environment, particularly in areas of deprivation. Sea Green! will work to raise awareness of the Bay's important habitats, its amazing species and in particular its fragile marine environment.
Based at the Seashore Centre in Paignton volunteer Wildlife Ambassadors will promote awareness and understanding of the Bay through community projects and educational activities. A new Sea School programme will be created so young people can experience a range of exciting activities and there will be a programme of regular events across Torbay, visits to local sites for local people and a larger annual Wildlife Festival designed to get local people out experiencing and learning about the natural environment on their doorstep. | South West | Charitable Trust | £243,852 | 74.7% |
| May 2010 | Groundwork Lancashire West and Wigan Limited,
The North Blackpool Pond Trail | This innovative project will link a high concentration of ponds and other green spaces to provide greater access and engagement for people from Blackpool and beyond. A series of walks, interpretation boards, events and a full volunteering programme will enhance opportunities for people to get involved, help to create an identity for the site as well as promote awareness and appreciation for the natural environment.
The project was originally proposed by the local community and local interest groups so community engagement will be at the heart of its work, providing education and hands on practical opportunities for volunteers, schools and communities. Further benefits include conservation of declining habitats and enhancement of the local environment for both people and wildlife. | North West | Charitable Trust | £231,112 | 80% |
| May 2010 | Northmoor Trust,
Connecting Naturally | This project will explore how families with young children build a long lasting relationship with the natural environment through finding activities that are interesting and relevant to them. The project will work with young children (particularly those under five) and their families that visit children’s centres in disadvantaged parts of Oxford and help them establish local connections with nature indoors and outdoors, and work with families to overcome the barriers that prevent them from going out and enjoying the natural world.
This will include the creation of natural green places at children’s centres, fun and engaging activities and a nature’s calendar of events, providing a window into the natural world, in safe and engaging locations. | South East | Charitable Incorporated organisation | £249,925 | 71% |
| Jul 2010 | Bulwell Community Toy Library Limited,
Play on the Wildside – nature inspired play for all the family | Bulwell Community Toy Library has been working with families in Bulwell for over 30 years. The area includes natural parkland and a designated Local Nature Reserve yet it is very underused by the local community.
The project will significantly increase the number of children and families that access, appreciate and take pride in their local natural environment. Alongside this the project will provide people with the necessary skills and knowledge to make the most of their experiences. Through its activities it will seek to improve the health, learning and self-esteem of children and young people in the area by engaging them in active and positive activities. | East Midlands | Charitable incorporated organisation | £76,792 | 89% |
| Jul 2010 | RSPCA,
Hastings Wild Things | This project is located at the RSPCA Mallydams Wood which has a large woodland and education centre with great facilities including a 32-bed residential facilities, classroom and a large ‘discovery room’ with murals of different habitats. This excellent facility will become for the focus for activities to involve young people in nature, working with a network of local partnerships such as Sussex Wildlife Trust, Hastings & St Leonards Excellence Cluster, the Crime Reduction Initiative and NSPCC.
A Woodland Youth Worker will organise taster days, courses and residentials, and support a Youth-Led Group to work with young people, teaching them about the woodland and wildlife. There will also be a Young Parent Youth Worker who will help teenage parents help their children enjoy and learn about the natural environment. In addition, Mallydams will also be open to the wider community once every month so that we can encourage other groups to enjoy and learn about the woodlands and wildlife there. | South East | Charitable Trust | £245,938 | 60% |
| Jul 2010 | Mersey and Red Rose Forests,
Setting the Scene for Nature | This project will encourage local communities to use newly developed green spaces on their doorsteps. It will focus on four sites, South St Helens Forest Park and Mab Lane in The Mersey Forest; and Nutsford Vale and The Meadows in Red Rose Forest. This sites are currently being transformed from underused sites into attractive places for people to enjoy.
This project seeks to change local peoples' perceptions of the sites by getting them involved in a series of events, activities and learning opportunities, designed to inspire them to value nature and develop a sense of ownership for the sites. | North West | Charitable Incorporated organisation | £240,000 | 80% |
| Jul 2010 | Organised Chaos (North) CIC,
Muddy Boots Project | Dirt, muck, water will all be part of this exciting project that incorporates the natural world with the world of play in a fantastic combination!
Open access activities will provide children with lots of opportunities including den building, fire play, woodland walks, star gazing, wild area development, residential stays and adventurous activities to get them used to the element of risk and challenge. Courses for adults will also run on a regular basis, providing ideas that will promote outdoor play, with the aim that participants learn how to support the development of natural areas and support children wanting to access these. For smaller children there is the Wizard Mog Project. Enchantment, story telling and mystery take place in the woods where children build ‘fairy castles’ destroyed by the ‘tree trolls’. This mini course brings together bush crafts skills as well as the many different play types. | Yorkshire & Humber | Community investment company | £248,061 | 75% |
| Jul 2010 | RSPB,
Dove Stone – Nature at the heart of urban communities | Dove Stone is the northern gateway to the Peak District National Park and this exciting project will provide many new opportunities at the site and in the local community for people to get actively involved in learning about nature and taking action for the environment.
The new project team will work with local schools, community groups and organisations over three years to deliver a range of sessions and activities – from reserve event training courses for group leaders and teachers, to mass participation activity days in Oldham, to volunteering and wildlife walks that are fun and easy to access. This project aims to give local people who might think 'nature's not for me' the skills and enthusiasm to adopt Dove Stone and build pride in this amazing place. | North West | Charitable Incorporated organisation | £237,446 | 74% |
| Jul 2010 | Bristol City Council,
Wild City | The project will work with local people so they are able to experience, enjoy and access the natural environment in creative and innovative ways. The project will also work with local communities to increase community involvement, local pride and sense of ownership on a range of natural green spaces and nature reserves across Bristol.
The Wild City project will target some of the most deprived urban communities in Bristol as well as under-represented groups. In addition, it will help address the needs of the elderly, people with disabilities, people with physical and mental health issues, adults with learning difficulties and black and minority ethnic communities. The project hopes to increase people’s confidence and understanding of green spaces, leading to improved use and enjoyment of these sites in future. | South West | Local authority | £250,000 | 74% |
| Jul 2010 | Hartlepool Borough Council,
A place for wild green spaces in Hartlepool | The aim of this project is to draw people from within the most deprived areas of Hartlepool into the town’s green spaces. It will do this by offering local residents a variety of learning experiences, health benefits and opportunities to enhance their understanding and stewardship of the natural environment. A range of volunteering opportunities, bespoke training programmes, environmental education, events and monitoring programmes will bring people together and help them to appreciate, improve and conserve these spaces through habitat creation and enhancement and the promotion of biodiversity.
Local communities will be involved in all aspects of its implementation and delivery to engender a long-term stewardship ethos to help support its sustainability. | North East | Local authority | £362,363 | 75% |
| Jul 2010 | Staffordshire Wildlife Trust,
Stepping Stones to Nature | This three year project brings together leading conservation focussed organisations in North Staffordshire. Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, the Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA), Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and the RSPB.
The project’s two main strands will focus on environmental education and community engagement. A new Education Officer will deliver environmental education sessions to encourage teachers (mainly from secondary schools) to gain access to nature reserves, country parks and green spaces. The Communities Officer will work with and involve people from all backgrounds in their local environment, and will introduce people through practical taster days, family fun days and workshops. Together, the four organisations have created a project that will inspire and convey a strong message to local people; how to connect with their local green spaces, nature reserves or country parks, and the positive effects that this will bring. | West Midlands | Charitable incorporated organisation | £347,168 | 76% |
| Jul 2010 | The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside,
Morecambe Bay’s Wealth of Wildlife (WoW). | This project aims to connect communities with their local coastal and marine environment. It will provide a series of initiatives to increase access to the beautiful natural places between Fleetwood and Ulverston reaching out to new audiences through a range of family events, walks and training opportunities.
In particular it will reach out to those that have never experienced the wildlife of Morecambe Bay, and provide them with the confidence to return in their own time. Volunteers will also be encouraged to take on more active roles, while schools, children’s centres and libraries will have the resources and the ability to carry on engaging children in the Living Seas initiative. | North West | Charitable Incorporated Association | £149,157 | 78% |
| Jul 2010 | Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust,
PUSHing down the barriers. | This youth volunteering project based in South Hampshire will work in partnership with the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH), The New Forest District Council and Portsmouth University.
Two Youth Volunteering Officers will work across the area on Trust nature reserves and other local nature reserves providing opportunities for thousands of young people to take part in a variety of practical conservation tasks and also learn traditional bush craft skills. Through Portsmouth University Media department, the young people involved will also have the opportunity to document and record their experiences through photography and film. | South East | Charitable trust | £371,022 | 73% |
| Jul 2010 | London Wildlife Trust,
Natural Estates. | This project has evolved through the Neighbourhoods Green Partnership, an initiative that aims to highlight the importance of green spaces for residential social housing and to raise the quality of their design, management and safe use within social housing providers.
The project will work closely with the residents of nine social housing estates to improve the estates’ green spaces with London Wildlife Trust having identified a range of enhancement projects that will improve both the quality and biodiversity of each site. Most of the work identified can be completed by local residents involvement and volunteering. | London | Charitable trust | £288,360 | 80% |
| Jul 2010 | Octopus Community Network,
Wild Places. | This project will take place at four community centres in Islington – Caxton House Community Centre, Whittington Park Community Centre, Hilldrop Community Centre and Holloway Neighbourhood Group. Each centre will become a hub for a variety of seasonally themed environmental activities for local people who do not normally interact with nature and the wider environment. The programme will include hands-on workshops, arts and crafts activities, guided walks and trips to green spaces in Islington and further afield.
Each community centre will also develop its own small urban Wild Places habitat - the Woodland Orchard; Hedgerow and Herbs; Bog Garden for Damp-Loving Wildlife; and Sparrow Field, Butterfly Jungle and Biodiversity Corner. Local people will all be invited to help design, create and maintain these and they will all be open to the public so that they can be enjoyed by the wider community for many years to come. | London | Charitable organisations | £267,666 | 80% |
| Jul 2010 | SCAN (Student Community Action Newcastle)
Rupert’s Wood project. | SCAN Rupert’s Wood project has been awarded funding to engage with young and older people from areas of Newcastle,Gateshead, Sunderland, North Tyneside, and Northumberland in environmental education, conservation projects, physical activities and personal development activities in outdoor woodland environments and in local communities.
Older and young people will explore the extent to which ‘guerrilla gardening’ can be used as a strategy for community engagement. Armed with trowels, seeds, and vision, the idea is to transform uncared for gardens in their local communities and to create an opportunity for older and younger people to meet face to face to discuss and participate directly in the making of their local environment. The project will build partnerships between voluntary youth organisations and the city’s universities, particularly with students from environmental/conservation backgrounds who have knowledge of demonstrating how local action can contribute to tackling global issues. | North East | Charitable organisation | £100,000 | 80% |
| Sept 2010 | London Borough of Barking and Dagenham,
Mayesbrook Park Wild at Heart. | Wild at Heart is about reconnecting local people with the wildlife and natural beauty of Mayesbrook Park and its Local Nature Reserve. Despite considerable popularity in the past it has suffered from a decline in usage in recent years and rising antisocial behaviour. This project will tackle this invisible barrier by actively involving a wide range of local people in improving and enjoying their park.
A full time Ranger will be based at the site to actively engage the whole community in activities such as healthy walks, adventure play, a Friends group, young people’s fishing, disabled cycling and education with local schools. Along side this, London Wildlife Trust will run weekly practical conservation events to create, improve, maintain and monitor the park's wildlife habitats. These activities will complement a separate capital project to adapt the park to climate change through an innovative river restoration scheme. | London | Local authority | £147.640 | 76.6% |
| Sept 2010 | Framework Housing Association,
Gateway to Nature | ‘Gateway to Nature’ is a project managed by Framework, Nottinghamshire’s leading provider of supported housing, housing related support, training and meaningful activity, to homeless and vulnerable people. The project will inform, inspire, and support vulnerable, isolated, and socially excluded people to access a wide range of ‘green’ and nature related activity in Nottinghamshire.
It will develop and establish a strong network of partnerships between vulnerable groups and communities and providers of natural spaces and activities, and help people to overcome the barriers which prevent people from using these. Starting with informal and ‘bitesize’ activities, (talks, in-house workshops, involvement in allotments and green spaces) the project will support people in pursuing structured and regular activities including walking groups, volunteering, training and education. | East Midlands | VCS – Charitable incorporated organisation | £323,684 | 80% |
| Sept 2010 | Leeds City Council,
Wyke Beck Valley Pride: Creating a Natural Heart in East Leeds | This project has been developed through the Wyke Beck Valley Pride Partnership. The partnership consists of members of the community, the Wyke Beck Valley Community Forum, Leeds City Council, BTCV Leeds, Groundwork Leeds, Leeds Voice and Leeds Ahead. The three year project will build bridges between the local community and the natural environment of the Wyke Beck Valley. Environmental improvements such as planting, signage and the creation of nature areas will be undertaken alongside an exciting series of activities to encourage the local population into the Wyke Beck Valley. These will include volunteering, biodiversity activity days, family wildlife events and health walks alongside a comprehensive education programme. The project's overall aim is to challenge preconceptions, encourage active participation and stimulate lifelong interest in the natural environment of the Wyke Beck Valley. | Yorks and Humber | Public sector – local government | £392,309 | 75% |
| Sept 2010 | North Warwickshire Borough Council
'Local Nature Reserves Project'. | At first glance rural North Warwickshire looks green enough - but look again and you’ll find that the green spaces on people’s doorsteps have a lot more to offer.
The Local Nature Reserves Project will create 4 Local Nature Reserves that are used and managed by the community, and that provide valuable habitats, increased biodiversity and new educational opportunities. These will be North Warwickshire’s first designated Local Nature Reserves. The project will build skills through volunteering opportunities; ensure local people have their say through 'Friends Groups' and deliver activities which offer something for everyone. The engagement of young people will receive a special focus through out the project. The project will run for two and a half years and will be delivered in partnership by North Warwickshire Borough Council, Groundwork West Midlands (Coventry and Warwickshire) and Warwickshire Wildlife Trust with other organisations and local partners involved along the way. | West Midlands | Public sector – local government | £225,249 | 75% |
| Sept 2010 | Holy Trinity Church
Holy Trinity Churchyard Project. | Heath Town is a densely populated area of inner city Wolverhampton, with limited open space. Holy Trinity's seven acre churchyard is right at the heart of the area but falls far short of its potential due to old broken gravestones, poor accessibility within the grounds and limited biodiversity.
This project will open up a large section of the churchyard as a wildflower meadow which will provide local people with easy access to a natural, peaceful environment. Biodiversity will be encouraged by providing additional habitats to complement those already found in the churchyard. Six local schools are key partners in the project and they will make use of the renewed churchyard as an educational resource. People will be able to enjoy the meadow informally but there will also be other practical ways for people to be involved, such as through volunteering, educational and social activities. | West Midlands | Voluntary and charitable organisation – religious organisation | £83,707 | 90% |
| Sept 2010 | The Waterways Trust
The Heartlands Linear Park . | The Heartlands Linear Park links the communities to the east of Birmingham with the wealthy heart of the region. In order to create a foster a greater sense of ownership and community development, the project will work with local communities to allow them to shape and change their local environment.
Schools and businesses will be asked to adopt their nearest stretch of canal and create a project of volunteer led work for their ‘patch’ – giving people opportunities to learn about the local environment and gain new skills. Running alongside this will be a series of events which will include guided walks, environmental arts projects, cycling training and an annual challenge or sport based event. This will promote the network of natural places that the community can access via the Linear Park and also work with the BME communities in the area. | West Midlands | Charitable incorporated association | £228,510 | 69% |
| Oct 2010 | National Children’s Bureau (Play England)
Exploring Nature Play. | This project aims to get more children and young people across England playing in and enjoying natural environments.
It aims to get 300,000 children, young people and families playing in natural environments through a national campaign that promotes and debates the benefits of children playing in natural environments, and drawing on local communities’ experience and knowledge to create an online map of nature play ideas and environments. It will also help local communities organise free and informal events that celebrate playing in natural environments and work with adventure playgrounds to develop and test innovative approaches to promoting and supporting nature play for children who have little contact with or experience of the natural environment. | National Project | Charitable organisation | £500,000 | 79% |
| Oct 2010 | Knowledge into Action
Outer Space. | The Outer Space project will improve public access to nature on two hospital sites in Doncaster and Coventry, ensuring that thousands of community members are able to use green spaces benefiting their health and welfare. The project will work with particularly hard-to-reach groups such as people with mental health problems and learning disabilities, people suffering social exclusion through economic disadvantage, people experiencing poor health and young people from disadvantaged areas. There is mounting evidence to show that access to green space has proven health and social benefits, and the project is targeting people who have a low level of engagement with the natural environment, including school children. The project will also allow local people to contribute to participatory artworks to celebrate the green space and promote messages linked to people's health and wellbeing. | National | Charitable trust | £336,830 | 80% |
| Oct 2010 | Groundwork West Durham and Darlington
Developing Forest Schools Centres of Excellence in the North East. | The ‘Developing Forest Schools Centres of Excellence in the North East’ programme will establish 12 sites across the North East as Forest Schools of Excellence (FSCE), one within each Local Authority area. Local volunteers will be recruited and trained to develop the sites to enhance the wildlife potential, increase community involvement and provide a safe learning environment for local school children. Children from nearby schools will be taken to the site by a trained Forest School Leader and given the opportunity to engage in an exciting variety of Forest School activities.
The grant will also fund the creation of a ‘NE Forest Schools’ website as an information hub for anyone wanting to take part in the Forest Schools programme in the region. | North East | Charitable incorporated organisation | £263,595 | 74% |
| Oct 2010 | London Borough of Enfield
Tunnel Vision - The creation of a green gateway for an urban community. | The Holmesdale Tunnel Open Space is a rare and unique pocket of natural space over the M25, which is underused and undervalued with poor access, minimal community activity value and little biodiversity. Residents either side feel isolated – not wholly belonging to either Broxbourne or Enfield or a distinct community.
Tunnel Vision aims to bring these communities together through a two-and-a-half year activity and event programme seeking to encourage residents of all ages to use the open space and take part in a wide range of activities including health walks, art activities, volunteering and training opportunities, school projects, children’s holiday events and creation of a friends group. Tunnel Vision will also improve the quality, biodiversity and design of this open space through the creation of a new ‘gateway’, a wildflower meadow, new planting and landscaping and creation of wildlife habitats. | London | Public sector – local government | £325,732 | 67% |
| Nov 2010 | Groundwork, Cheshire
Wild at Heart. | This project will work with children at Cheshire's special schools to get them involved with the countryside through the John Muir Award. This will involve pupils exploring and conserving natural places, and sharing what they have done with others. The schools will be supported to carry out the John Muir award enabling a quarter of their pupils to visit local countryside sites and up to 100 pupils to stay overnight in the Peak District National Park.
Community events will also be held to encourage children and their families to access the countryside. A support network will also be provided for the eco-coordinators from all the schools and the green space providers to ensure strong relationships can be developed and to assist schools to continue delivering the awards independently in future years. | North West | Charitable incorporated association | £78,247 | 76% |
| Nov 2010 | Medina Housing Association,
Natural Wight. | This two year project based on the Isle of Wight will offer a range of activities designed to encourage young people and Island residents to explore and enjoy it’s natural environment.
Working closely with a range of local partners and organisations, Natural Wight is a blend of practical conservation activities, educational events for young adults and younger children and families, as well as creative community activities designed to raise awareness and understanding of the beauty, accessibility and biodiversity of this unique Island landscape. | South East | Charitable Industrial and Provident Society | £96,670 | 78.5% |
| Nov 2010 | Groundwork Solent,
Make a difference. | Groundwork Solent will be working in partnership with Woodmill Outdoor Activities Centre and Southampton City Council to increase access to nature for individuals and families in the Southampton area. The project will deliver a programme of accredited volunteering for those aged 16 plus (with a particular focus on those with additional needs), a programme of schools sessions and a series of open days for the general public to come and enjoy the green spaces.
The environmental projects will be carried out at Woodmill Outdoor Activities Centre and at the Shoreburs Greenway and will include the creation and improvement of access-ways, natural wildlife habitats and education facilities. Support will also be provided to local ‘friends of’ groups. | South East | Charitable organisation | £217,876 | 77% |
| Nov 2010 | Thanet District Council,
Footprints in the sand. | The Thanet Coast in Kent is a huge expanse of accessible natural greenspace with numerous national and international nature conservation designations.
This project will help local communities to discover the wonders of the natural coastline on their doorstep, and use the coast as a resource for learning, skills development, social well-being and health benefits. A project officer, working with a new partnership of organisations will coordinate a programme of activities encouraging those local communities who do not usually visit natural places, to access and enjoy the Thanet Coast. The project also aims to increase pride and ownership amongst local people for their coastal heritage; develop an interest in and raise knowledge, and awareness, of coastal wildlife and natural features; increase participation in, and develop skills for, conservation and interpretation activities; and promote health benefits relating to the natural coastal open space. | South East | Local authority | £98,021 | 79% |
| Nov 2010 | Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change,
Where the wild things grow. | Over 1500 people in communities in Penzance, Falmouth and Helston will be given the opportunity to gain skills, knowledge and experience of the natural environment through exploration, training, volunteering and guided activities.
Community groups will be supported to develop green spaces as well as create new nature trails to local natural sites, including beaches, woodlands and managed green spaces. The aim is to increase the number of people who regularly use these sites and will encourage strong relationships between communities and their local natural environment that will be shared within and between families for future generations. | South West | Charitable and social enterprise | £99,397 | 89.6% |
| Nov 2010 | Hampshire County Council,
Walk on the Wild side. | Through this project the county council will work closely with a range of local authorities, wildlife trusts and community groups to increase the diversity of people visiting the Hampshire countryside. In particular it will encourage black and minority ethnic groups to explore the local countryside on their doorstep.
Through a series of workshops including wildlife identification, foraging, orienteering and organised walks and trips to country parks participants will gain experience, develop skills and increase their knowledge of local wildlife. This unique opportunity will help participants to build confidence and nurture a life long interest in the natural environment. Those that develop a keen interest will have the chance to have greater involvement in their countryside by becoming a Community Guide. The project will also help to strengthen links between communities and their local countryside sites enabling rangers and community groups to build lasting relationships. | South East | Local Authority | £88,523 | 79% |
| Nov 2010 | Norfolk Wildlife Trust,
Wild Norfolk. | This project will provide free, accessible opportunities for local communities, specifically those in Great Yarmouth, Thetford and King’s Lynn, to learn about, and get involved with, their local natural heritage.
Participants will be encouraged to access local parks and their nearest nature reserves and countryside sites as well as learning a range of skills to create and manage green spaces within local communities. These will include everything from bird and plant identification to learning how to create a wildflower meadow or build a bat box. By working with existing groups and organisations, the project will be guided by feedback from participants to create a programme that will bring a new audience who are passionate and informed about Norfolk’s countryside and wildlife. | East of England | Charitable organisation | £98,741 | 78% |
| Nov 2010 | The Land Restoration Trust
Beam Parklands. | Beam Parklands is a newly created open space in East London that provides an innovative and multi functional approach to land use and management. Significant investment has been secured to deliver flood protection improvements to the site and environmental and community features including over 12 hectares of newly created ‘Priority Biodiversity Action Plan Habitats’ and a bridge with access routes connecting communities with this 53 hectare site.
The Access to Nature project will build upon the existing investment to provide a site for the local community where they can take part in a programme of on-site activities and events that will target local schools, residents and wider park users. | London | Charitable trust | £173,875 | 41% |
| Nov 2010 | Rowan Training and Enterprise Community Interest Company (CIC)
Sunship Earth. | This project will see environment and conservation education programmes delivered with the Peak District National Park, giving people the opportunity to get closer to nature, learn about nature conservation and gain environmental skills which they can share with friends and family and use in their local communities.
People will be able to gain valuable skills through conservation volunteering in the Peak District National Park and local nature reserves such as Doncaster’s Hatfield Moor, Wentworth Castle and Sites of Special Scientific Interest in and around Barnsley. Participants completing a programme of learning will achieve the prestigious John Muir Conservation Award, to be presented at the Rowan Earth Open Festival. | Yorkshire and the Humber | Charitable incorporated organisation | £98,504 | 83% |
| Dec 2010 | Nottinghamshire YMCA,
Environmental education and access. | This project will work with over 850 people with two new interactive projects to inspire them to get involved with nature and the great outdoors.
Initially, young people will take part in week-long, environmental education projects, using outdoor activities as a vehicle to get participants out into the natural environment, actively taking part in rewarding, conservation projects. Participants will also plan and take part in residentials where they will study different natural environments and compare them to their own. These young people will then act as mentors during family camping weekends in the UK where family members will take part in activities and gain the basic skills and knowledge needed to continue to access and conserve their local natural environment. | East Midlands | Not for profit organisation | £228,217 | 79% |
| Dec 2010 | London Play
Play for Children in Natural Environments . | This project aims to help children from socially deprived areas in London to explore and learn more about nature by designing and building nature play areas in collaboration with local communities. The project will help transform public spaces that are poor in nature and play value. London Play will harness expertise from Trees for Cities and London Wildlife Trust, and work with a professional landscape architect and contractors as well as community volunteers, both children and adults, to make natural playground building a series of fun, family events. | London | Charitable trust | £190,569 | 66% |
| Dec 2010 | Sheffield City Council
Wild in our Woods. | ‘Wild in our Woods’ will work with targeted groups from within the local communities to help them discover, explore, conserve and champion ‘Sheffield woodlands’. A hub of activity will be provided and delivered from the New Woodland Discovery Centre in the city’s largest ancient woodland, Ecclesall Woods. A wider programme of events and activities will run across the city to get everyone involved in their local woodlands. | Yorkshire and the Humber | Public sector – local government | £206,882 | 80% |
| Dec 2010 | Science & Technology Facilities Council
Dark Sky Discovery. | The Dark Sky Discovery partnership is a network of national and local organisations working together to make it easier for everyone to enjoy and be inspired by the night sky and the universe beyond.
The project will work with people from diverse backgrounds to educate them about the night sky and to encourage a greater understanding of science and technology. It will also support the development of ‘dark sky places’, awareness and tourism; develop a national network of people championing the work being undertaken; and create long-lasting organisational partnerships in this area. | National | Public sector – non-departmental public body | £176,800 | 52% |
