Charity’s work boosted by £ 4,000 donation
A YORKSHIRE charity which supports adults with disabilities access the countryside, has received a funding boost of more than £ 4,000.
The donation from rural organisation, CLA’s Charitable Trust, was made to Harrogatebased Open Country, to benefit a project in Wakefield, known as the Nature Force Group.
The project supports people with a disability to develop their skills and improve the local environment by undertaking a range of conservation tasks including tree planting, scrub clearing, pond creation, nest box making and wildflower planting. They also make benches and improve paths around the Wakefield communities to ensure access for all in public spaces.
Open Country’s ‘ Wild about Wakefield’ Project Officer Ella
Dixon said: “We are over the moon with the CLA Charitable Trust’s grant, as it will enable us to purchase our own wildflower growing equipment to help manage wildflower meadows across our district to increase biodiversity and for the enjoyment of people who visit these green spaces.
“This means that people in the Nature Force Group can learn new horticultural skills and get back to their important conservation work after a period of isolation earlier in the year.
“Ultimately, our project is not just benefiting our active participants, but also Wakefield’s residents who can enjoy an improved local environment.”
The CLA Charitable Trust provides grants to charities and community organisations which help connect disabled or disadvantaged young people with the countryside.
CLA Director North Dorothy Fairburn said: “I am delighted the Trust has been able to support Open Country with funding. They do so much good work in their local communities, and it’s very pleasing to think that these grants will help them achieve even more and make a difference to the young people they work with.”