Nature & Climate Challenge Fund - grants available

Submitted on 
North Devon Coast - Area of Outstanding Natural Beuaty

Community groups, schools, businesses and parishes are invited to apply to the “Nature and Climate Challenge Fund”. Grants of up to £4,000 are available for projects within the coastal parishes of the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, an area which runs from Combe Martin along the coast to Welcombe.

The aim of the Challenge fund is to support the best proposals for communities to do their bit for wildlife, for climate or for people to deliver the following objectives:

  • Conserve and enhance the natural environment
  • Protect or improve habitats for wildlife
  • Help communities to understand and engage with nature
  • Encourage ‘reduce; re-use; recycle’ principles
  • Support the use of or generation of renewable energy
  • Encourage walking and cycling
  • Improve physical access to the coast and countryside

Example projects could include digging a pond, creating a nature area in school or playgroup grounds for growing/learning, planting hedges or trees in your local parish, adding sustainable and native plants to local parks, nature interpretation boards, bike racks and cycle routes, improved physical access, electric car charging points, solar panels etc. where they benefit the community.

The 14 eligible parish areas this grant scheme may cover are: Abotsham, Alwington, Appledore, Berrynarbor, Braunton, Clovelly, Combe Martin, Georgeham (& Croyde), Hartland, Ilfracombe, Mortehoe (& Woolacombe), Northam, Welcombe and Westward Ho!

Applications are open NOW with a deadline of Monday 26th July with projects needing to be completed by the end of February 2022. If you have any questions contact Laura Carolan on 01271 388628 or [email protected] to discuss. An application form can be downloaded here. Please note the guidance and grant terms and conditions are the same as with our SDF grant scheme.

Our funders:

  • Torridge District Council
  • Lottery Community Fund
  • Northam Town Council
  • Bideford Bridge Trust
  • Bideford TC
  • Devon County Council
  • Edward Gosling Foundation
  • Nationwide Building society