The UK government’s new £7 million Community Green Spaces Fund aims to boost access to nature and support rural communities across England to become more “green-fingered”.
The fund, which was announced today (Saturday, March 23), will facilitate the construction of community orchards, kitchen gardens and natural play areas across rural England from Northumberland to Cornwall.
Grants of up to £75,000 will be provided to help communities to plant fruits, vegetables and trees, creating orchards and kitchen gardens for all to access and enjoy.
Landscaping projects could also create raised beds and improve areas to plant different flowers around village hall facilities and other community green spaces, making space for pollinators and nature to thrive, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said (Defra).
An additional £5 million in funding as been announced for village halls to support capital improvement projects, such as building extensions and the installation of Wi-Fi.
Funding will also be awarded to support the expansion of natural play facilities to encourage children to spend more time outdoors, in addition to projects which focus on improving access to green spaces such as new paths and seating.
To make the spaces more accessible to disabled people, funding will also be available for the creation of disabled parking spaces, Defra said.
Rural communities
Minister for rural affairs, Robbie Moore, said: “Our rural communities are an integral part of our society with rich human, economic and natural potential.
“This government is committed to putting the needs of people and businesses in rural areas at the heart of policymaking.
“We have increased connectivity, modernised village halls, improved transport and expanded opportunity for England’s remotest communities.
“The Community Green Spaces Fund will build on our ambitions for rural areas, creating and enhancing valuable community facilities and green spaces at the very heart of rural communities to preserve and protect their essential character.”
Executive director at Action With Communities In Rural England (ACRE), Richard Quallington, said the charity welcomes the government’s “commitment to supporting rural communities” to make the most of green spaces.
“The fund has the potential to support a wide range of initiatives that contribute to Net Zero and biodiversity net gain, as well as improving the health and wellbeing of local residents,” he said.
“We know from our experience of administering recent grants to village halls that the availability of capital funding can catalyse new projects, many of which have had an environmental focus. We stand ready to support this new scheme.”
