News

Funding available for ‘valley’ good ideas -

Grants still available from

Dedham Vale AONB Sustainable Development Fund (SDF).

Funding is still available this year from the Dedham Vale Sustainable Development Fund.  The Fund is administered by the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Stour Valley Project and aims to help local communities and groups make a difference in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty by promoting sustainable development.  The Fund can provide up to 75% of the total project cost (100% in exceptional cases).

Last year the SDF supported a variety of local projects including a composting scheme for a primary school, dormice highways on the Suffolk/Essex border, children’s theatre workshops about wildlife and conservation, the excavation of a Tudor hunting lodge at Wormingford and a pond restoration at Stratford St Mary.  Some funds have already been allocated to projects for this financial year (2010/11) and there are still opportunities to apply.

Sally Correia of Stoke by Nayland Primary School, one of last year’s fund recipients said, “The equipment we were able to purchase with the funding means that every child in our school now helps to feed all the plants by composting their fruit, every child in our school is learning the importance of giving back to the earth and most importantly, how easy it is to be eco-friendly.  This week we found two young grass snakes under the compost we were turning, it was in their words ‘awesome’”.

Simon Peachey, Operations Manager for the Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Project said, “We are particularly keen to encourage projects that support landscape and biodiversity enhancement, sustainable tourism, education for sustainable development, locally sourced products and social inclusion.  If you think you have got a sustainable project, call us for an informal chat about the idea.  Grants are awarded on a first come, first served basis, for projects that can run until the 31^st March 2011.”

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Contact

For further information on the Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Project, please contact Sue Ellis on 01473 264263.

Notes for editors

Notes for Editors: 1. If your local community or organisation is able to make a difference in the Dedham Vale AONB by promoting and achieving sustainable development, you can apply for a grant from our Sustainable Development Fund. The final deadline for any further applications to the Fund is the 20th August 2010. 2. Please note that all applications are assessed by a Grant Advisory Panel and all projects have to benefit the Environmental, Economic or Social wellbeing of the AONB and be completed by 31 March 2011. 3. For further information about eligibility and criteria for applications either contact Simon Peachey at the Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Project on 01473 264263 or download the documents on the Sustainable Development Fund pages of our website at: http://www.dedhamvalestourvalley.org/downloads.asp?PageId=115 4. The Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Stour Valley Project aims to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the area. Further information at: http://www.dedhamvalestourvalley.org/ 5. The Dedham Vale AONB is one of Britain’s finest landscapes. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) are part of the “family” of UK protected areas that include our National Parks and Heritage Coasts. All receive special protection because of their outstanding landscape quality. The Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Project seek to champion the environmental and cultural qualities of the Stour Valley.