Chance for communities to enhance natural spaces

Over 100 groups have benefitted from the funding so far, which has been used towards projects such as churchyard works, planting wildflowers, developing a community allotment, and restoring disused land into a nature reserve.

Friends of Riverside Park, in Chester-le-Street, used its allocated funding to create planters of vegetables and herbs for the community to use, as well as litter picks.

Cllr Mark Wilkes, our Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and partnerships, said: “This funding is a fantastic opportunity for individuals and groups to see their visions for the community come to life. Each year we share the grant between ten organisations. In this way we have been able to boost the wellbeing of neighbourhoods across the county over the last eight years.

“Not only does this grant provide significant community benefits, it also helps the county’s natural environment by creating areas which promote biodiversity and support wildlife in line with our Climate Emergency Response Plan. We are encouraging groups to get in touch with us to discuss their ideas, and we’re particularly keen to hear from organisations with plans to carry out activity which supports our ambition to tackle the county’s ecological emergency.”

The IYN grant scheme is open for applications until Friday 20 January 2023. Those interested in applying for funding can contact civicpride@durham.gov.uk