Action to support 2,500 jobs, plant almost a million trees and boost nature recovery across the country has been stepped up today (July 28) with 90 innovative projects set to receive money through the Government’s £80 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund.
The projects, which will receive a share of £40 million, will span over 600 sites from North Northumberland to the tip of Cornwall, and will range from new ‘insect pathways’ in countrysides and towns, to tree planting projects in deprived urban areas – contributing towards the government’s commitment to treble tree planting rates across England by the end of this Parliament.
This announcement follows a first round of funding where almost £40 million was awarded to 69 projects.
This round saw over 800,000 trees planted, alongside wider conservation work and the restoration of protected landscapes and damaged habitats such as moorlands, wetlands and forests.
Combined with the first round, the fund is on track to support over 2,500 jobs.
Speaking from B-Lines, a Buglife project which has been awarded just over £170,000, Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:
“The diverse and ambitious projects being awarded funding today will help environmental organisations employ more people to work on tree-planting, nature restoration and crucially, help more of the public to access and enjoy the outdoors.
Through our £80 million fund, we are on track to support over 2,500 jobs, plant almost a million trees and increase nature recovery at a huge scale across the country, which will help us deliver against our 25 Year Environment Plan.”
The fund is delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission.
