We have awarded £10,000 to two community projects that will encourage conservation and increase public understanding of the forest.
The New Forest Ninth Centenary Trust will use the funds to help run a tailored education service that focuses exclusively on the New Forest and its natural and social history. This will enable over 1,700 children to receive 50 days of educational time.
Conservation is the theme for the New Forest Land Advice Service grant, which will be used to help to deliver a programme of habitat improvement and water quality measures along the river Blackwater, where Himalayan Balsam infestation is causing a problem. Both projects received funding to support their work over two years.
Angela Peters, Community Wildlife Plans Project Officer, said “the funding has helped support the Blackwater Conservation Group to carry-out practical conservation work, through delivering a number of volunteer tasks so far this year, with more planned, helping landowners remove Himalayan Balsam from the edges of the river. So far this year around 500m of the rivers edges have been cleared by 14 local wildlife champions who regularly come out on the tasks.”
Love the Forest Director Julie Mottisfont said “We are delighted to be able to support the New Forest Ninth Centenary Trust and the New Forest Land Advice Service in their vital work – but, we fully recognise this is only possible thanks to the generous support we receive from the many businesses – hotels, holiday parks, holiday cottage providers, restaurants, pubs, bed & breakfasts and attractions – and their customers who make donations to our Love the Forest scheme”
If you have a project that supports the our ethos, we are currently accepting grant applications from £500 to £10k. The grant scheme is intended to give local organisations improved access to funding and more capacity to respond to local issues and needs. Visit https://www.newforesttrust.org.uk/contact/apply-for-grant for further information on how to apply.