Three North Cumbrian organisations have been awarded cash from the Lake District Foundation to help them develop conservation projects.
They were among 13 groups given between £250 and £500 from the foundation’s small grants fund, launched earlier this year.
The foundation said the fund attracted a lot of applications and the successful recipients were projects which shared its goal of making the Lake District and Cumbria an inspirational example of sustainable development in action, support a prosperous local economy, world-class visitor experiences and a place where vibrant communities come together to sustain its landscape, wildlife and cultural heritage.
Sarah Swindley, Lake District Foundation’s CEO said: “We were thrilled with the amount of interest in the fund and delighted we can support community and volunteer-led groups who are delivering practical conservation and some with a youth focus.”
Keswick Red Squirrel Group has been awarded a grant to help it develop a partnership with Borrowdale Primary School, which has around 40 pupils, to involve and educate children in red squirrel conservation efforts, working with the school to make red squirrels a part of the children’s outdoor activities as much as possible.
Ullswater Catchment Management CIC. The local parish council and community have recently taken control of Jenkins Field in Glenridding to provide a source of sustainable funds towards the community by hosting events, and a large area is to be left as a wildlife area.
The funds will support the creation of a wildflower meadow, reinstating plants to help benefit pollinator species.
Friends of Ullswater Way undertook a survey in January/February 2020 to determine the Ullswater community’s interest in promoting cultural heritage. There was overwhelming support and the community decided to create an Ullswater Heritage Knowledge Bank and website.
Support from the foundation will further the community engagement and involvement in the project including creation of materials for a roadshow illustrating Ullswater Then and Now cultural and landscape changes over time on various themes such as farming, tourism, Wordsworth, industrial heritage, education, and woodlands selected from the Heritage Knowledge Bank.
