16/04/04 - Cash Boost for 'Green' Groups

"One of the county council's major priorities is to protect the local environment and help in sustaining local communities. All these projects fulfil those aims in a variety of ways.   

"The grants have in some cases enabled yet more funding to be drawn down to help Cumbria's environment, providing a further investment in the county's future.   

"Those who have put in so much effort and are continuing to work hard to bring these projects to fruition deserve recognition and our thanks." 

• £5,000 to Cumbria Wildlife Trust for a three-year project to improve the grounds of 40 primary schools and five secondary schools all over Cumbria to make them more hospitable to wildlife. 
• £5,000 to Cumbria Development Education Centre for sharing experience among Cumbria schools of the best practice in environmental education.  
• £5,000 to Baywind Energy Efficiency Project to raise awareness about energy efficiency and carry out energy-efficiency measures such as insulation and providing low-energy light bulbs in 150 homes in the Swarthmoor and Pennington area near Ulverston. 
• £2,000 to Holme Park Quarry Liaison Management Committee, which covers a number of important sites in the parishes of Holme and Burton-in-Kendal in south-east Cumbria, including two nature reserves and a site of special scientific interest. The project aims to protect the sites and enhance their bio-diversity, improve awareness of the sites and encourage access to them by local people and visitors.     

• £4,000 to Hensingham Conservation Volunteers to regenerate nine acres of open grassland in the Sneckyeat area of Whitehaven to bring in more wildlife, make new cycleways and footpaths, build sports facilities, improve seating and hold regular events. 
• £2,000 to the Cockermouth Eco-centre, managed by Cockermouth School, to raise awareness of the centre among local people and groups as well as the rest of Cumbria and Britain.