Projects boosting biodiversity and green infrastructure,
improving water quality and minimising the impact of wildfires
are set to benefit from more than £11million of Welsh Government
funding.
Eleven projects across Wales are currently finalising their plans
to receive funding as part of the first stages of larger scale
projects supported under the Enabling Natural Resources and
Well-Being in Wales grant scheme.
As part of World Environment Day (5 June), Minister will be meeting with young people who have been
striking over climate change, as well as speaking at an event
with WWF Cymru and RSPB Cymru at the Senedd.
The projects gaining funding are being revealed to demonstrate
the efforts being made to support the environment and the
benefits it can bring for people and communities across
Wales.
It is hoped that investing in green infrastructure will improve
the rural and urban environment, as well as support the
development of resilient ecological networks.
The grants to support environmental enhancements linked to
improving well-being will also benefit from more than £2.2million
of match funding.
Welsh Government will be providing grants between the range of
£500,000 and £2.8million for a maximum duration of three years.
Projects that will benefit from funding include:
- A project aiming at halting and reversing biodiversity
decline and increasing ecosystem resilience in South East Wales.
- A project to improve green infrastructure and create
structural tree planting, to reduce the noise and air pollution
effects of heavy traffic within Wrexham to care for their green
space.
- A project based at the Llanishen and Lisvane Reservoirs will
create a hub for health & wellbeing, reconnecting people with
water and the environment; whilst maintaining, protecting and
enhancing the ecological value of the site.
- A project aiming to make a long-term, sustainable difference
to nature recovery through co-ordinating and enabling informed,
evidence-driven collaborative action.
- A project that will restore a network of meadows and engage
directly with 20,000 people, being delivered through three
complementary programmes which connecting people with local
meadows, improve management and skills and leave a valuable
legacy of resources for the future.
Last week Chief Whip announced
at the Hay Festival that a pan-Wales project increasing the
well-being of people, biodiversity and the environment,
throughout Wales, using three interconnected work packages, will
benefit from £996,999 as part of the grant scheme.
Further projects set to benefit from funding will be revealed in
the near future.
Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, , said: “These projects will make a difference to
the environment around us across Wales. As well as the ecological
and biodiversity benefits, the enhancement works will also
improve the general mental and physical well-being of communities
who are able to enjoy them.
“Through volunteer networks and partnership programmes
communities will be able to have a direct impact on their local
environment, taking responsibility and enhancing the green spaces
and natural resources around them.
“This investment in green infrastructure will be felt by many
generations to come and is part of our commitment to supporting
the environment in every way we can. It is imperative that we
take the opportunity to support biodiversity and environmental
projects so they can be sustainable and flourish in future
years.”
Notes to editors
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Project name and summary
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Welsh Government funding and match funding
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Llanishen & Lisvane Reservoirs (LLR)
The Llanishen & Lisvane Reservoirs project brings
together new partners from 3 sectors: water utility,
statutory and voluntary. The project will create a hub
for health & wellbeing, reconnecting people with
water and our beautiful environment; whilst maintaining,
protecting and enhancing the ecological value of the
site.
|
£1,000,000.00
Match funding: £683,000
|
|
Well Connected providing Opportunities for
All
Creating a Green/Blue Corridor linking and improving
Natural Resources across the three counties of
Denbighshire, Flintshire and Conwy.
|
£740,350.00
Match funding: £548,150
|
|
Wrexham Green Infrastructure Project
The project aims to -
• Improve green infrastructure within some of the most
deprived wards in Wrexham.
• Create dense, structural tree planting to reduce the
noise and air pollution effects of heavy traffic along a
key arterial transport route into Wrexham.
• Develop volunteer networks within Wrexham to engage the
community in caring for and improving the environmental
quality of their green space.
|
£551,852.00
|
|
Biophilic Wales
This pan-Wales project will increase the well-being
of people, biodiversity and the environment, throughout
Wales, using three interconnected work packages. We
will create volunteer groups that will work throughout
all aspects of our project and use innovative public
engagement to connect people to their natural heritage.
We will improve green infrastructure in the places where
people can benefit from it the most.
|
£996,999.00
Match funding: £286,767
|
|
‘We Care’ / Gwarchod Cymunedau’: We Educate
Communities and Regenerate Environments
The ‘We Care’ Partnership programme will connect the most
socially and economically disadvantaged communities in
Wales with their local environment, increasing the
capacity of communities to conserve, enhance, and benefit
from, their green spaces and natural resources.
|
£989,270.00
|
|
Sustainable Stitch in Time
Invasive non-native species (INNS) are known to have a
significant impact on the environment, economy and
wellbeing of the people of Wales. The ‘Sustainable Stitch
in Time’ project focuses on addressing some of the
challenges faced across Wales in tackling INNS in a
sustainable way.
|
£159,594.00
Match funding: £25,000
|
|
Local Nature Partnerships Cymru
This project is a new collaboration between Wales
Biodiversity Partnership, WCVA, local authorities,
National Parks Authorities and the Local Environment
Records Centres which aims to make a long-term,
sustainable difference to nature recovery through
co-ordinating and enabling informed, evidence-driven
collaborative action.
|
£2,802,247.60
Match funding: £301,398
|
|
A Resilient Greater Gwent
This project envisions a South East Wales that has a rich
and growing biodiversity resource valued by local people
who engage with it for their health and well-being.
Activity will also contribute to halting and reversing
biodiversity decline and increasing ecosystem resilience
in South East Wales.
|
£1,349,137.21
|
|
Ceredigion Greenways Partnership
The project will create a new ‘Greenway’, along the
Lampeter to Llangybi section of the disused Carmarthen to
Aberystwyth railway line. The project also
incorporates improved access to a 325-acre community
woodland.
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£895,269.00
|
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Magnificent Meadows : Gweirgloddiau Gwych
Magnificent Meadows is a partnership and community
engagement project that will restore a network of meadows
and engage directly with over 20,000 people. Three
complementary programmes will connect people with local
meadows, improve management and skills and leave a
valuable legacy of resources for the future.
|
£872,550.00
Match funding: £358,500
|
|
Voice of the Woodlands – new pathways to
collaboration for people and trees.
Voice of the Woodlands will forge new links between
Woodland Groups and Landowners in public and private
sectors across Wales whilst consolidating existing links.
The project will explore new ways of working and develop
tools and resources to help remove existing barriers and
build capacity on both sides – increasing the scope and
quality of woodlands management by and for communities,
enhancing biodiversity and maximising health and
Wellbeing benefits.
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£690,845.00
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Final budget allocations to be confirmed.
