- 68 projects have been awarded grants between £62k and £3.8 million to kick-start a pipeline of nature-based projects while creating and retaining jobs
- First funding round sees £40 million pot allocated, second round of funding to open in early 2021
Lincolnshire Rivers Trust’s ‘Bringing the Limestone Becks back to Life’ is one of the first environmental projects awarded a grant from the government’s £80 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund.
Defra announced grants between £62,000 and £3.8 million today, to help create and retain thousands of green jobs. The projects, spread across England, will see trees planted – 800,000 in total – and protected landscapes and damaged habitats such as moorlands, wetlands and forests restored, alongside wider conservation work. The projects will also support environmental education and connecting people with green spaces.
The project will restore over 1.2km of Limestone Beck at between Branston and Heighington near Lincoln. Limestone Becks are spring-fed water bodies that are unique and can support rich aquatic fauna and flora. Unfortunately, a range of pressures have left the beck substantially poorer ecologically than it should be. By improving in-channel habitat, creating floodplains and adding absent gravels the beck will again provide habitat for species such as brown trout and water voles.
We will also engage with the community and local landowners building relationships and future opportunities to improve the Limestone Becks in the county.
Jon Bolland acting chair of Lincolnshire Rivers Trust said:
“This funding will make a real difference to our overall ambition for the Limestone Becks. By creating a more naturally functioning river channel we can safeguard ecology and hopefully inspire other landowners to think about improving the Limestone Becks on their own land”. The Green Recovery Challenge Fund is a key part of Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan to kick-start nature recovery and tackle climate change. The fund is being delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.
Environment Minister, Rebecca Pow, said:
“These projects will drive forward work across England to restore and transform our landscapes, boost nature and create green jobs, and will be a vital part of helping us to build back greener from coronavirus.
“I look forward to working with environmental organisations as these projects help address the twin challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change, while creating and retaining jobs as part of the green recovery.”
Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive, National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“Supporting our natural environment is one of the most valuable things we can do right now. All these projects are of huge benefit to our beautiful countryside and wildlife, but will also support jobs, health and wellbeing, which are vitally important as we begin to emerge from the coronavirus crisis.”
The government’s forthcoming Environment Bill puts the environment at the centre of policy making to ensure that we have a cleaner, greener and more resilient country for the next generation. The fund is supporting a range of nature conservation and recovery and nature-based solutions projects, which will contribute towards government’s wider 25 Year Environment Plan commitments, including commitments to increase tree-planting across the UK to 30,000 hectares per year by 2025.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- 21 projects will receive the larger grants (over £250k – £5m) and 47 projects awarded funding for the smaller grants (£50 – £250k).
- Lincolnshire Rivers Trust is the only charity working across Lincolnshire to improve our rivers and waterways. Find out more at www.lincsrivers.org.uk