Action Earth green fund for community projects unveiled

FUNDING for community groups involved in green projects has now opened.

Funded by NatureScot, these nature grants support volunteers of all ages, backgrounds and abilities in practical outdoor activities.

Any group of volunteers are able to apply for Volunteering Matters Action Earth nature grants of between £50 and £250 to run environmental activities in Scotland’s green spaces. Activities should emphasise local nature enrichment and biodiversity improvements. This could include creating or improving community gardens, shared spaces, wildflower meadows, ponds, woodlands and other wildlife habitats.

Applications for activities which are primarily about food growing will not be accepted.

The charity will prioritise applications from volunteer groups that do any of the following: Work in areas where there is substantial social or economic deprivation; Improve and develop the health and wellbeing of their local community; Involve disabled people, vulnerable people or those at risk of exclusion; Encourage and involve people under 26 in practical outdoor conservation

Applications that make major environmental impacts and/or involve mass participation are also welcome.

Projects submitted to the funding process must involve practical outdoor activity by volunteers in Scotland. They should make environmental improvements to local green spaces, such as planting projects and wildlife habitat creation.

A minimum of 15 volunteers must be involved in the project, each giving at least five hours of volunteering time and the sites to be worked on must be accessible to the general public

Plants, tools, materials and volunteer expenses can be claimed. However, projects must use non-peat compost if this is one of the intended purchases and their is a strong recommendation to plant native species only.

To qualify, projects must be completed by January 31, 2023.

For more information and apply visit https://volunteeringmatters.org.uk

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