Trust set to benefit from recycling cash
The Woodland Trust is set to benefit from a £250,000 grant, as part of a £10 million national Biodiversity Action Fund from WREN. The money is generated by a tax on rubbish and is available to projects within a 10 mile radius of landfill sites.
Thanks to a £250,000 cash boost, the Woodland Trust will work with Cumbria Woodlands and the Forestry Commission to restore ancient woodland across at least 15 different locations including woods at Longtown and near Brampton. The money will be used to bolster and regenerate native species of plants and trees by the gradual removal of densely shading conifers while providing key habitats for woodland wildlife.
Peter Lowe, who will manage the project at the Woodland Trust, explained that the project will improve and restore 1,000 hectares of planted ancient woodland. “Ancient woodland, the UK’s richest habitat for wildlife, covers only 2 per cent of the UK which is why it is vital that we begin to restore these areas that have been planted with non-native conifers. Funding from WREN is crucial to our partnership work with landowners in Cumbria, helping to regenerate these sites and ensure they return to their former glory.”
The Woodland Trust was one of 10 projects to receive a share of WREN’s Biodiversity Action Fund, which this year totalled £2 million. Other organisations to benefit include the RSPB, The National Trust and Butterfly Conservation.
WREN is a not for profit business that awards grants to community, environmental and heritage projects across the UK from funds donated by Waste Recycling Group (WRG) as part of a voluntary environmental tax credit scheme called the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF).
The organisation has pledged £10 million over a five-year period to its Biodiversity Action Fund – money which will help the UK meet ambitious biodiversity targets. In 2009 more than £1.6 million was awarded to nine projects, while this year the fund increased to £2 million.
Mike Snell, head of external affairs at WRG, said this year’s pot increased to £2 million due to the high number of quality applications and demand for biodiversity support. ”This fund supports ecological projects that have a significant long-term impact and will help to redress the biodiversity balance. WRG is committed to supporting projects that enhance people’s lives and that deliver meaningful improvements to their communities. Helping to ensure healthy biodiversity is part of that process and we’re proud to be able to play our part.”Notes to editors
For media enquiries contact:
The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, email: media@woodlandtrust.org.uk
The Woodland Trust:
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters.
The Trust has three key aims: i) to enable the creation of more native woods and places rich in trees ii) to protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future iii) to inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free.