The Big Lottery Fund has teamed up with the BBC to launch the Community Wildlife Programme, which brings communities together to improve or protect the natural environment by raising awareness of threatened wildlife or places. The programme celebrates 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity, by allowing local groups and communities to get more involved with, enhance and protect their local wildlife. Not-for-profit organisations, parish or town councils, social enterprises and schools or health bodies may apply for support.
Grants of between £300 and £10,000 are being provided for one-year projects that:
Improve rural or urban environments for people to enjoy, for example by:
• protecting wildlife habitats;
• creating a nature trail, woodland walk or wildlife garden; or improving community spaces such as rivers, ponds, woodlands.
Projects that get people more active and healthier, for example by:
• exploring parks, rivers and the countryside to look for rare or endangered species;
• encouraging people to take up gardening or to go on nature walks; or providing opportunities for children to learn about nature through play.
The deadlines for receipt of applications for each round are; 22 September 2010 and 24 November 2010.
Website: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_community_wildlife
