We are thrilled to be able to announce that our Beelines North East project in partnership with Northumberland Wildlife Trust has been awarded a £697,800 grant from the Government’s £40 million second round of the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, a multi-million pound boost for green jobs and nature recovery.
To protect our precious pollinators, we’re excited to be working in partnership with Northumberland Wildlife Trust to deliver the Beelines North East, a project which will create a network of 45 nectar-rich public sites, aiming to plant 2,500 trees, 25,000 bulbs and creating 18 hectares of grassland. The work will target young people, with traineeships available including for young offenders, alongside volunteering, and schools work opportunities.
Barbara Hooper, our Director of Parks and Allotments, said:
“We’re absolutely delighted to have been awarded the funding for Beelines North East and to be working with Northumberland Wildlife Trust to deliver this important project. We already know how important our urban green spaces are for people; we now have the chance to make sure that they remain important for wildlife too.
“In recent years habitat loss has been a major contributing factor to the decline in the numbers of pollinators like bees and butterflies. Our parks provide real opportunities to encourage and support these vital pollinators, and enable them to thrive in our region.”
Elaine More, Living Landscapes Project Manager for Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said:
“Connectivity of habitat across urban areas is of vital importance for pollinators so they can move around, forage, and reproduce. We aim to work with local communities, especially young people, to create a strong network of ecologically diverse sites on people’s doorsteps where pollinators can thrive, creating a legacy once funding comes to an end.”
About the Green Recovery Challenge Fund
Ninety nature projects across England have been awarded grants from £68,100 to £1,950,000 to create and retain over 1,000 green jobs, backed by the Government’s £80 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund.
Work will be carried out on over 600 sites from North Northumberland to the tip of Cornwall, and combined with the first round, almost a million trees will be planted, contributing towards the Government’s commitment to treble tree planting rates across England by the end of this Parliament.
A full list of awards is available to view at: www.heritagefund.org.uk
This project is funded by the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its Arm’s-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission.
