Chalk Arc support for local communities!

The Chalk Arc Grants Scheme has been a huge hit with the communities around Dunstable and Luton. So far money has been awarded to a variety of projects including; pond creation or restoration of old ponds for people and wildlife, creation of heritage trails, establishing new footpaths, cleaning degraded areas of river habitat for wildlife whilst teaching communities about the benefits of doing so, and installing information boards about the wildlife found on the chalk around Luton and Dunstable and buying play equipment to encourage more use of green spaces.

We are still accepting applications so don’t miss out! The Community Grant Scheme helps local groups, communities or companies to develop public facilities. These can be new green spaces; access routes; improvements to existing routes; protection or improvement of landscape or wildlife habitats; projects associated with our historic heritage; encouraging the work of local communities in education, information or improvement of these sorts of issues.

It does not have to be a huge project it could be as simple as requesting money for a bench overlooking a view of a green area or a view point across the landscape or tools or training for a community group to enable them to look after their local green space.

Grants of between £750 and £25,000 are available, normally to 75% of the overall project cost.  There is some degree of flexibility on area and outcomes so, even if you are unsure whether your ideas will qualify, just get in touch and ask.  The system is being administered by The Greensand Trust on behalf of the Chalk Arc Initiative and they are there to provide advice as well as just do the paperwork. The new deadline for completion of projects is the end of February 2008. So get your applications in quick!

Get in touch by email: chalkarc@greensandtrust.org , telephone: 01525-378101;or by post to: The Chalk Arc Community Grant Scheme, The Greensand Trust, The White House Suite 5, Hockliffe Street, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1HD for further details.