Tesco Bags of Help

The Tesco Bags of Help grant is now up and running. The money raised from the 5p bag charge in Tesco stores in England, Wales and Scotland is being used to pay for a large number of local projects to improve green spaces in communities. Projects that will get the green light as a result of the funding will include building new pocket parks, sports facilities, woodland walks and community gardens.

http://www.groundwork.org.uk/Sites/tescocommunityscheme 

Kingfisher Awards

The Kingfisher Award Scheme provides primary school children with the opportunity to go onto farms to explore the natural world. It is very much a practical exploration, allowing them to touch, feel and see the relationship between food, farming and wildlife.

Each year, a number of primary schools attend a Field Day in June when they visit a farm. They take part in a number of activities, such as pond dipping, shearing and animal tracking, designed to give an understanding of how farming and wildlife are linked. Emphasis is placed on the food chain, ecosystems and life cycles within the natural environment. Experts are on hand to guide the children into discovering for themselves and to answer questions. The children are encouraged to use all their senses to understand and experience the countryside.

Back in the classroom the children do further research on the themes of the Field Day and prepare a display. This is a team effort that allows the children to develop ideas and explore their natural environment at school and at home. Even though all the children will have the same broad experience at the Field Day, it is fascinating to see how each school group is inspired in different ways and informed by different parts of the day. The freedom to explore themes in their own time makes it easier for teachers to blend the Field day experience with the classroom work going on in the summer term.

All of the schools are then invited back to the farm for a picnic where they present their displays to compete for the Kingfisher Trophy. The judges are a panel drawn from farming and wildlife backgrounds with whom the children discuss their work. The afternoon also includes activities such as making willow dragonflies or story-telling. At the end of the picnic, the judges have to make the unenviable decision to award the trophy to one winning school. It is a tense moment!
First launched in Devon by the late Poet Laureate Ted Hughes and friends in 1992, Kingfisher now works with around 800 children a year across four counties (Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Wiltshire). It is administered by the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group SouthWest (FWAG SouthWest).

For four years the Field Day was held at Alvediston, but this year it moved, with the kind permission and support of the Sykes family, to Norrington Manor. The picnic will be held at Fyfield Bavant where the Reis family throw open the barn doors for a day and welcome the children to the farm.
Here in Wiltshire, Kingfisher is run by enthusiastic volunteer Alastair Brown. He started the scheme some years ago as a result of seeing his brother do the same thing in Somerset. He had always had an enthusiasm for wildlife since a very early age and wanted to inspire the same thing in others. Alastair says, “I particularly liked the way that Kingfisher set out to achieve its aim of taking children onto farms and allowing them to discover the relationship between food, farming and wildlife.” He goes on to explain that, “It appealed to me, too, that the Kingfisher Award Scheme was entirely free to schools taking part, with the fundraising being my responsibility; particularly useful for smaller primary schools.  In my first year and subsequently, I also noted the enthusiastic responses from teachers whose classes had taken part, saying that their classroom preparation for the display had provided an excellent forum for a range of teaching subjects.”

The AONB Sustainable Development Fund provided the Wiltshire Kingfisher Awards with its first income of just £500. Since, then we have been privileged to support the scheme in any way we can.

This year, Alastair will be hanging up his wellies and handing over to FWAG South West’s Louise Kennedy who will be taking up the responsibilities for the Kingfisher programme in the future. If you would like to learn more about Kingfisher, or would be interested in your school getting involved, then you can contact Louise at louise.kennedy@fwagsw.org.uk

Grants for Wiltshire Groups

Do you need funding for your group?

Our challenge is to make a positive change in Wiltshire and Swindon by helping local groups make life better for their communities. We want to help you to support those who need it most.

You can apply grants for project or core costs and overheads for:

Foundation Grants

Apply for up to £5,000 a year for up to three years’ funding. Funding will go to projects where the majority of people who will benefit, experience disadvantage either economically, socially, geographically or physically. Expression of interest closes on 1st October 2015.

The Office of Police & Crime Commissioner Grants

Apply for up to £3,000 for one year’s funding. Applications are welcomed from groups who seek to bring communities together to tackle local issues around anti-social behaviour, crime, drug and alcohol related crime, reducing re-offending, violence against women and girls or youth crime. Expression of interest closes on 28th August 2015.

Comic Relief Small Grants

Grants available up to around £1,000-2,000 to support work where there is clear evidence of a sustained beneficial impact on people’s lives who are excluded or disadvantaged through low income, rural or social isolation, age, disabilities, race, sexuality or gender. Priority is to be given to small, locally based groups or organisations in areas of disadvantage that have a clear understanding of the needs of their community and are undertaking actions as a means of addressing these needs. Available in 2016.

Foundation Small Grants

Up to £1,000 available all year round for groups starting up or for smaller projects and items of equipment.

Visit our website at www.wiltshirecf.org.uk for more information and click on the ‘Apply’ menu. The first step is to fill in an ‘Expression of Interest’ survey and the link for this can be found underneath the listing of our criteria. If you meet our criteria we will send you a link for an online application form.
Call us on 01380 729284 or email info@wiltshirecf.org.uk to find out more about how we can help. This information is valid until end of October 2015.

Grants for Places of Worship

The Heritage Lottery Fund has grants of £10,000-£250,000 available for Grade I and Grade II listed places of worship in England to fund urgent structural repairs and help to make them better places for everyone to visit. As part of the repair project, HLF can also fund improvements to facilities and work that helps more people get involved with these buildings.

Applications go through a two-round process so applicants can apply at an early project stage and get an idea of whether you're likely to receive a grant. The next deadline for applications is 17th November 2015.

Read more at: http://www.hlf.org.uk/looking-funding/our-grant-programmes/grants-places-worship-england

Funding: HLF First World War – then and now

Funding: HLF First World War – then and now
A recent announcement by the HLF says that it plans to make more funds available for communities looking to explore, conserve and share local heritage of the First World War. Grants of between £3000 and £10,000 are available and you can apply at any time up to 2019. For more information go to the website:
https://www.hlf.org.uk/looking-funding/our-grant-programmes/first-world-war-then-and-now

Funding to Support the Development of Neighbourhood Plans

The Department for Communities and Local Government has announced a new £22.5 million grants programme to support communities looking to develop neighbourhood plans. Neighbourhood plans can be used in determining planning applications, and ‘neighbourhood development orders' that grant planning permission; and vote them into force in a referendum. Through the programme neighbourhood planning groups will be able to apply for grant of up to £14,000 to pay for events to engage the local community, print leaflets and to pay for specialist planning expertise. The support programme runs to 2018 and from April it will also provide community groups with technical assistance and expert advice to support new neighbourhood plans and neighbourhood development orders, throughout the process.
Applications can be submitted at any time.
Read more at: http://mycommunity.org.uk/programme/neighbourhood-planning/?_a=funding

First Steps Community Funding

First Steps gives small community groups the freedom to develop action plans to improve their neighbourhood.

First Steps areas will receive support to decide upon practical actions to make positive changes in their community.

http://mycommunity.org.uk/programme/first-steps/?_a=funding

Launching the Heart of Wessex Local Action Group

• Do you want to sustain the high quality of life in your area?
• Are you passionate about improving the rural economy?
• Do you want to support opportunities for growth and employment?

If so, we need your help!
The Heart of Wessex Local Action Group (LAG) has recently received £1.74m of European Union funding to invest in rural businesses and community initiatives to improve the rural economy throughout the LAG area. Come and help us celebrate the opportunities that this funding programme offers at:

A Launch Event
Wednesday 17th June 2015
Cheese & Grain, Market Yard, Frome, Somerset BA11 1BE

Hear how the programme works, how you can get involved through the Local Action Group and help decide where the money is invested, and how projects can apply for funding.  It’s an open meeting, so everyone is invited!
The Local Action Group forms the central part of the programme, it’s an open group, and all the members have a fair and equal say on which projects should be supported, as well as giving overall guidance on the direction of the programme.  The Local Action Group will officially launch at the 17th June meeting.  Don’t miss it!
The funding will be available from June 2015 to the end of 2020.  It is really important that the programme makes a real difference – leaving a legacy that everyone benefits from, this means the programme needs to be very focused on what it wants to achieve.
Your Interim LAG Executive Committee continues to work on achieving this focus to ensure the programme gets off to a flying start.  The Interim Executive Committee is made up of a range of key organisations and individuals from across the Heart of Wessex area, all who have been working really hard over the last few months on your behalf! Decision making powers are delegated to this Committee and formal elections to form the Executive Committee will be held at the launch event. If are interested in standing for election on the Executive Committee, please get in touch.

Timings

There will be refreshments from 6pm onwards and the meeting will kick off at 6:30pm.  There is plenty of parking at the Cheese & Grain and it’s free after 6pm!  If you know you are coming, please book your place; it will help plan for catering.

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday 17th June.
To book your place, please use the Eventbrite link below:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/launching-the-heart-of-wessex-local-action-group-tickets-16081569407

Funding to Support the Development of Neighbourhood Plans

The Department for Communities and Local Government has announced a new £22.5 million grants programme to support communities looking to develop neighbourhood plans.

Neighbourhood plans can be used in determining planning applications, and ‘neighbourhood development orders' that grant planning permission; and vote them into force in a referendum. 

Through the programme neighbourhood planning groups will be able to apply for grant of up to £14,000 to pay for events to engage the local community, print leaflets and to pay for specialist planning expertise. The support programme runs to 2018 and from April it will also provide community groups with technical assistance and expert advice to support new neighbourhood plans and neighbourhood development orders, throughout the process.

Applications can be submitted at any time. Read more at: http://mycommunity.org.uk/programme/neighbourhood-planning/?_a=funding

Funding for Community Groups - Link2Nature

Link2Nature, the Wiltshire & Swindon Local Nature Partnership, has got a small grants fund available to community groups and other not-for-profit groups who want to carry out eligible projects. There is about £4,000 left in the fund.
The funds will assist groups to record and communicate their work to a wider audience, engage directly with the wider partnership of Link2Nature, contribute to building an evidence base which can be used for future planning.

Examples of projects which can be considered:

• Setting up walking, cycling or other activity groups which utilise local green space for health benefits
• Setting up or supporting an existing survey/recording group which will provide biological records to the Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre (WSBRC).
• An event which raises awareness of the work of the group and Link2Nature.
• Equipment for enhancing the local environment e.g. wildlife gardens / community allotments / litter or waste event or activities.
• Setting up a local environment action group.

Who can apply?

Grants will be awarded to not-for-profit groups with a bank account and designated officers, whose work is primarily focused within the administrative area of Wiltshire Council.
For example: an existing or potential community group, a Parish Council aiming to improve the environment and community engagement with the environment within the parish, a club or association with a project which aligns with the aims and objectives of Link2Nature (please see www.link2nature.org.uk for details).
Grant funding cannot be awarded to individuals and applications will not be accepted from individuals.
Application forms and more guidance available from the web site www.link2nature.org.uk

be part of your Local Action Group

We’re getting started ….be part of your Local Action Group.

The proposed Northern Dorset Local Action Group (NDLAG) will be supported by Defra to distribute European Funding across North and East Dorset, and around Sherborne and Christchurch through the LEADER approach.  LEADER is a well established method of delivering rural development funds through community participation.  Unfortunately we cannot launch the programme or call for projects until after the General Election in May – but it is essential that the Local Action Group is ready to select the first projects for funding in the summer.  To do that we need local people to be part of the Local Action Group.

The Local Action Group relies on the experience and interest of its members.  We will work with you to ensure that you have the knowledge to support, develop and select projects that come forward for funding.  You will decide where financial support would make the most difference to the economic, social and environmental development of the LAG area.
Come along to one of the first meetings to find out how you can:

• Register to join the Local Action Group and make a difference
• Help identify and select strong projects from local communities, organisations and businesses applying for grants;
• Offer advice and support to applicants at an early stage and assess the relevance of their proposals against our priorities;
• Monitor the performance of the Local Action Group (LAG) and discuss each year’s priorities at the Annual Forum;
• Stand for election to the LAG's Executive Committee - decision making powers are delegated to this Committee and elections will be held at our next meeting;

The meetings are:

• 11th March at Horton and Chalbury Village Hall 7-8.30pm, booking and information at  http://ndlaghorton.eventbrite.co.uk
• 16th March at The Exchange, Sturminster Newton 7-8.30pm, booking and information at  http://ndlagsturminsternewton.eventbrite.co.uk

If you are not able to book online contact Sarah Harbige 01305 228699 to book your place with a real person.  The meetings are the same so there is no need to attend both ... unless you really want to!

Contact Details:

Sarah Harbige
LEADER Programme Manager | Tel: 01305 228699 | Mob: 07825 072963
Dorset's Local Action Groups: Northern Dorset LAG | Southern Dorset LAG

Web: www.dorsetlocalactiongroups.org.uk  (website under development)
Twitter: follow@DorsetLAG
News: Sign up for Newsletters to hear about LAG events, news, projects and funding opportunities: Northern Dorset | Southern Dorset
Post: c/o Economic Development, Environment and Economy, Dorset County Council, County Hall, Dorchester, DT1 1TE

Latest Funding Opportunities

Roof repairs to listed places of worship

£15million fund for urgent roof repairs to listed places of worship Congregations across the UK responsible for looking after listed places of worship can apply for money to address urgent roof repairs to ensure these historic buildings are weathertight, safe and open for use.
Organisations, trusts and congregations of all faiths and denominations can apply for a grant from £10,000 to £100,000 to meet the costs of urgent repairs to roofs and rainwater disposal systems. Limited funding can also be provided for structural investigations; specialist reports and bat surveys.
To be eligible for funding buildings must be listed and used for public worship. Places of worship that have received a previous repair grant from English Heritage, Historic Scotland, Cadw, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, the Heritage Lottery Fund and/or other Lottery distributor, and where that project is not yet finished, are not eligible to apply.

There is only one opportunity to apply to The Listed Places of Worship: Roof Repair Fund. The closing date for applications is noon, Friday 30 January 2015. Decisions will be announced in March 2015. Further information on how to apply can be found at http://www.lpowroof.org.uk/ 

National Churches Trust Community Grant Scheme (UK)

The National Churches Trust has announced that its Community Grant scheme will re-open for applications on the 12th January 2015. The National Churches Trust was formed to fund, protect and support the built heritage of 47,000 churches, chapels and meeting houses throughout the UK. Through the Community Grants scheme, grants of £5,000 and above are available for projects which introduce facilities to enable increased community use of places of worship. The Community Programme considers applications from listed and unlisted Christian places of worship of any age and denomination that open regularly for public worship. Grants are available towards capital works such as additions and extensions, and the introduction of facilities, such as accessible toilets and catering facilities. Projects must have an estimated cost of at least £25,000 (including VAT and fees) to qualify. Read more at: http://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/our-grants/community-grants

War Memorials Grant Scheme (England)

English Heritage and the Wolfson Foundation, in association with Friends of War Memorials, are providing grants for the repair and conservation of free-standing war memorials in England. These grants are intended to help those who are responsible for the upkeep of war memorials. The grants support the care and preservation of war memorials to a high standard, and to prevent the decay of this important part of our built heritage. Grants will normally be for up to a maximum of 75% of eligible costs, with a maximum grant of £30,000.

The minimum grant that can be applied for is £3,000. The next closing date for applications is the 5th January 2015. Read more at: http://www.warmemorials.org/grantsforwarmemorials/

Big Lottery Fund Awards for All Webinars

Webinars to take place every Thursday at 3pm and include guidance on eligibility criteria and how to best evidence the need and impact of your project. Also hints and tips on how to put together an application including outcomes, which you can link directly to the questions on the application form.
http://southwestforum.org.uk/sites/default/files/sitefiles/docs/a4a_webinars.pdf

Funding available to support rural jobs

LEADER is a community-led European funding programme that supports rural development.

In the last LEADER programme (2007-20013) the AONB was covered by the Sowings SEEDS Local Action Group (LAG).   The LAG enabled £1.6m investment in 35 projects including community shops, renewable energy, butchery and wood processing initiatives.

Hindon Community Shop – Copyright Carolyn White, Barn near Sixpenny Handley – Copyright Mike Boss, Artisan Produce, Salisbury Farmers Market – Copyright Carolyn White, Woodland Industry, Barford St Martin – Copyright Stephen Ward

The next LEADER programme will start in January 2015 and LAGS will be able to award grants to suitable projects that support economic growth. The AONB will be covered by three LAGs in the coming programme covering Wiltshire and Somerset, Dorset and New Forest.
Please contact the LAG that covers your area if you have any questions, if you’d just like an informal chat about an idea for a project or about joining the Local Action Group.

Each LAG is currently drafting its bid to secure the funding.  Please take the time to look at the draft bids when they become available for consultation on the LAG website and let the programme mangers know if have any comments.

Wiltshire

The Heart of Wessex Local Action Group, area incorporates the high quality environment of south Wiltshire, south Somerset, and parts of Mendip. It includes the settlements of Wilton, Tisbury, Mere, Wincanton, Bruton, Castle Cary, and Crewkerne. It also includes the larger town of Frome. 
The main aim of the Heart of Wessex of Wessex LAG is:
“To act as a catalyst for supporting the development of vibrant, independent and interdependent rural communities based upon strong economic growth.”

It will do this by:
•    Generating a diverse and sustainable rural economy and support entrepreneurial activities(targeting micro and small businesses, farming and farm diversification, forestry and woodland and rural tourism enterprises)
•    Realising the benefits from the high quality natural environment, culture and heritage
•    Sustaining community facilities and services

The Heart of Wessex LAG provides an opportunity to stimulate economic growth at a local level and make wide ranging and sustainable changes within the area.

Website: www.heartofwessex.co.uk  
Contact:  Sarah Dyke –Bracher, Heart of Wessex Programme Manager
Tel: 07826 907361
E mail: sarah@heartofwessex.co.uk

Dorset

The Northern Dorset Local Action Group covers North and East Dorset and the Sherborne area.
Contact: TBC

Hampshire

The Hampshire part of the AONB is covered by the New Forest Local Action Group
Website: www.newforestleader.org.uk  
Contact: Sally Igra, New Forest RDPE (Leader) Programme Manager
Tel: 023 8028 5588
E mail: sally.igra@nfdc.gov.uk

New funding website for local Wiltshire area

New Website for Funding Database for Wiltshire & Swindon Now Available www.wsfunding.org.uk supported by The Community Foundation for Wiltshire & Swindon www.wscf.org.uk

Join us for launch of Chalke Valley Business Initiative 27/02/14

Sell Tickets Online through Eventbrite

FUNDING: Starter for 10 Programme for Creatives

Creative England is pleased to announce that due to popular demand this year’s Starter for 10 programme is no longer solely restricted to businesses under two years old. If you’re a creative business based in the South West and you have an idea for an innovative new product or service, you have until 23 February to submit an application form.

If your application is shortlisted, you will be given the opportunity to pitch your idea to a prestigious panel of judges who will select the 10 best ideas to receive a £10,000 grant and a comprehensive package of business support.

To qualify, businesses must be an SME operating within the sectors of digital, web and interactive, mobile and app, social media, TV or marketing.

If this isn’t you but you know a business that may be interested please do forward this on to them. Hurry, the deadline is fast approaching!

For more information and details of how to apply please visit www.starterfor10.biz

Starter for 10 is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and managed by Creative England.

Help secure funding for rural communities

We need your help!

The recent 5 year RDPE  (Rural Development Programme for England) of which the Sowing SEEDS Local Action Group (LAG) funding was part, has now ended. A number of projects in the AONB benefited from this funding including Hindon Village Shop, Semley Shop, Chalke Valley Community Hub, Mere and Tisbury Chambers of Trade, Stourhead Kindling,  Kingston Lacey Glasshouse project  and the AONB Sustainable Tourism Project - Discover Nadder.

Every LAG in the UK is now in a period of transition (2014) where we have the opportunity to develop a bid for future funding from the next RDPE which is expected to start in January 2015. There is no guarantee of further funding! We need your help to secure funding to support new projects from 2015 to 2020.

The photo below shows when and where forthcoming meetings will be held.  We really do need to show that many, many people are involved in Local Action and most importantly that we want it to continue into the next programme period. This is your chance to say what the priorities are for your area and to put forward project suggestions.

Please forward to your friends, colleagues and contacts and encourage them to come along and support the LAG.

We very much appreciate your support in helping us to secure these vital funds and we look forward to seeing you at one of the upcoming meetings

HELP US ENSURE FUTURE FUNDING FOR AONB PROJECTS

The AONB and the Community Partnership Executive of North Dorset (CPEND) jointly prepared the ‘Sowing SEEDS’ bid to Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) in 2008. It was developed to support innovative activities and projects by rural communities, businesses (including farmers, growers and foresters) and community organisations within the area.

This funding was the first of its kind to cover the entire AONB area and offered new prospects to local communities of all ages, with innovative project ideas.

Between 2009 and 2013, the Local Action Group (LAG), made up of representatives from the local community, decided which community based initiatives or projects received funding from ‘Sowing SEEDS’. The contribution that the Sowing SEEDS LAG has made to the rural community has been significant. In total it has supported 35 initiatives and awarded grants worth over £1.28 million to grassroots focused, small-scale, innovative projects , generating an impressive range of benefits for the area.

Case Studies

A number of individual case studies which reflect the diversity and range of the projects the LAG has supported throughout this programme period will shortly be available on the Sowing SEEDS website, please visit: http://www.sowing-seeds.org.uk/projects.html

Successful Projects

The following projects received funding through Sowing SEEDS.  Those highlighted in bold are within the AONB. These come to a total of just under £500,000 but each project will have levered in significant amounts of additional match funding. Many of the other projects directly and indirectly benefit the AONB communities and environment.

Hindon Village Shop	£19,231.00
Blackmore Vale Butchery	£8,750.00
Shaftesbury Film Unit	£8,000.00
Dorset Farmers Market	£5,938.00
Blandford Allotments - Machinery Ring	£9,996.00
Feasibility Study, Training Unit	£10,000.00
CPEND Broadband	£9,500.00
Motcombe Community Shop	£29,556.00
Future Roots	£128,600.00
Food Mill Feasibility Study	£9,350.00
Kingston Lacy Growing Spaces	£30,914.00
Let's go H20	£9,200.00
Gillingham Town Design Statement	£4,800.00
Mere Chambers	£8,546.00
Wimborne BID	£10,000.00
Countryside Centre Phase 1	£6,378.50
Henry's Buttons	£10,000.00
Economic Spine	£9,950.00
Tisbury Chambers	£8,546.00
Leisure Credits	£113,525.68
Rural DORMEN	£22,500.00
Lordsmead Mill Micro Hydro	£34,347.55
Peggs Farm Micro Hydro	£21,807.00
Benjafield Farm Micro Hydro	£31,213.00
Employability Skills Base	£146,827.00
Semley Shop	£49,548.50
Driving Rural Business	£62,221.00
Sustainable Tourism	£58,285.00
Trailway Wood Fuels retort system	£11,654.40
CHAT Hub	£198,369.00
Chalke Valley Community Hub	£91,734.00
Bangers & Bacon	£10,000.00
Stourhead Kindling	£9,960.00
Blandford Car Club	£9,266.00
Kingston Lacy Glasshouses	£38,345.00

The next Rural Development Programme

The next Rural Development Programme is anticipated to start during 2015 and will run until 2020. The Sowing SEEDS Local Action Group has been awarded funding to cover the period of transition between the current and future Rural Development Programmes during 2014. The funding will allow the Sowing SEEDS programme staff to begin a thorough participatory consultation period with communities across the whole LAG area. The LAG will be seeking views from local communities and businesses to inform the content of the new strategy. Activity to gather these views will include:

• A series of public consultation meetings
• Recruitment of new LAG members and formation of a new LAG Executive Committee
• Gathering background information about the Sowing SEEDS LAG area
• Seeking views from previously funded LEADER projects

The information gathered from these meetings will inform the preparation of a new Local Development Strategy (LDS). This strategy will set development priorities for the next funding period.

How you can help ensure that local action continues in this area:

1.    Complete a very short on-line survey - The future success of Local Action relies entirely on the local community. Your input is needed to help shape the future of Local Action in this area, so even if you feel you have had little or nothing to do with this programme your response is very much appreciated.

All completed surveys will be anonymous and a summary of the results will be used to help prepare the final programme evaluation. Please follow the link below:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M8ZP98Y  

2. Project ideas – Although currently there isn’t any funding available for the remainder of this programme period, we would still like to hear from you if you have a project idea that you would like to discuss. We are keeping a list of prospective projects so we can contact you when we know when future funding becomes available. Please contact the Sowing SEEDS office if you would like to be added to this list and receive further news of funding opportunities.

3. Take part in one of the of Consultation Workshops - The current LAG have organised six meetings that will take place across the LAG area throughout February and March 2014. The workshops will be an opportunity to share your views, opinions and ideas about the future of LAG activity in the area. As always light refreshments will be served on arrival.

Schedule of meetings: ·         Wednesday 19th February 2014.  6pm - Sturminster Newton ·         Wednesday 26th February 2014.  6pm - Broad Chalke ·         Wednesday 5th    March 2014.     6pm - Bourton ·         Wednesday 12th March 2014.      6pm - Sixpenny Handley ·         Wednesday 19th March 2014.      6pm - Maiden Bradley ·         Wednesday 26th March 2014.      6pm – Semley

4. For up-to-date information about the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) visit: http://rdpenetwork.defra.gov.uk/

Please contact Sarah Dyke-Bracher – Programme Manager on 07826 907361 for further details

Community Shops Awards

The Plunkett Foundation has embarked on a search for the best examples of community action by launching the first ever Community Shop Awards - click here to find out how to nominate one of the ever growing number of community shops in South West Wiltshire!

Meeting with Natural England

Really positive feedback from yesterdays meeting with Natural England's Executive Director Jim Smyllie. The conversation was a really useful one in the morning whilst the visits in the afternoon could not have gone better. Discussing landscape issues, opportunities and challenges for the next environment scheme for farmers and the opportunities for farmer collaboration.