A Lakeland conservation charity has awarded grants to projects aimed at preserving the county’s native hedgerows.
Grants of up to £2,300 were handed out as part of the Real Hedge Fund Campaign, an organisation made up of donations from businesses, visitors and residents who love the Lake District and want to help the cause of protecting native hedgerows and the wildlife that depends on them.
The fund aims to highlight the importance of hedgerows in the environment and the role within the cultural and natural heritage of the Lake District, and has an ambitious target to plant 4km of native hedgerows across Cumbria.
It is part of the latest fundraising initiative by the Lake District Foundation and partners including the Ullswater Catchment Management CIC, The Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Woodland Trust and Eden Rivers Trust.
Sarah Swindley, CEO of the Lake District Foundation said: “We’ve had a fantastic response to this round of funding. Thank-you to all those who applied and congratulations to those who were successful.
“The grants have been awarded to those who demonstrated environmental value either by planting new native hedgerow or restoration of old hedgerows and opportunities to allow for community engagement.”
Four projects have been selected, at Hutton Head Farm in Penrith, Holme House Farm in Skelsmergh, Low Park Hedge in Tebay and Barn at Thwaite Head, Ulverston.
The next round of funding will be in September with £5,000 available.
