New grants for green projects in the Dales

PROJECTS WHICH are environmentally friendly in the Yorkshire Dales National Park will be able to benefit from tens of thousands of pounds in funding after a scheme has been relaunched.

A total of £160,000 in grants will be available through the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund.

The fund had to be suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, but the National Park authority’s officers confirmed yesterday that the scheme is now open for new bids.

The member champion for sustainable development at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Chris Clark, said: “The Sustainable Development Fund is there to give a boost to local projects that will make the Yorkshire Dales National Park a better place to live, work or visit.

“The fund will support projects which conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife or cultural heritage of the National Park, or those which promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the area.”

In the 12 months to the end of April, a total of £175,000 was allocated through the fund to 36 schemes.

Among the projects to benefit was a vegetable box business in Crosby Ravensworth in Eden which used funding to buy new equipment, and a cycling business in Hawes in Richmondshire which invested in waterproof information leaflets.

Funding was also provided to Ingleborough Show Cave in Craven for wheelchair accessible picnic tables, and to a community group in Sedbergh in South Lakeland for a replacement shed at an allotment site.

The next round of funding needs to be allocated by a deadline of the end of March next year.

More details are available by calling the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority on 01969 652337 or by emailing sdf@yorkshiredales.org.uk