Fund of up to £7 million will boost access to nature and support
rural communities across England to become more green-fingered
Another £5 million made available to help with projects like
village hall extensions and improved Wi-Fi access
Supports the government’s ambition that no-one should live more
than a 15-minute walk from a green space
Community orchards, kitchen gardens, and natural play areas are
set to spring up across rural England thanks to a new government
fund unveiled today (23 March).
The new Community Green Spaces Fund will provide up to £7 million
of funding to support communities across the country - from
Northumberland to Cornwall - to create, restore and enhance their
green spaces.
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.
Funding will also be awarded to support the expansion of natural
play facilities which 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.
The announcement supports the government’s ambition that no-one
should live no more than a 15-minute walk from a green space, a
commitment set out in our Environment Improvement
Plan.
Minister for Rural Affairs
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.”
An additional £5 million of funding for
village halls has also been announced today to support capital
improvement projects, such as building extensions and the
installation of Wi-Fi. This follows the £3 million of funding
made available to mark the occasion of Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. Village halls are vital to local
communities, and we recognise the key role they play at that
heart of rural life.
Richard Quallington, Executive Director at ACRE
said:
“We welcome the government’s commitment to supporting rural
communities so they can 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.
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.”
In addition, the government has this week published its third
rural proofing report, detailing progress the government has made
in the past year to grow the rural economy, improve digital and
transport connectivity, and build more homes.
Achievements in the last year include cutting travel costs in
rural areas with the £2 fare cap, connecting 162,000 homes to
digital capable broadband through Project Gigabit, and the
announcement of a National Planning Policy Framework which has
enabled more homes to be built in rural areas where it is needed
most.
The third rural proofing report, Delivering Rural
Opportunity, is available to read here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/delivering-rural-opportunity
Notes to
editors:
- Defra is working with Action with Communities in Rural
England (ACRE) to scope the Community Green Spaces Fund with
applications expected to open in early summer.
- The extension to the Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund will
be also managed by ACRE. Further detail and guidance on
applications will be provided in due course but is expected to
open in Summer 2024.
