23/03/2023: £4,000 environmental grants award by district council

Breckland Council has awarded £4,000 in environmental grants which will go towards community projects aimed at reducing the impact of climate change and supporting local wildlife to flourish. 

Carbrooke Village Millennium Green has been awarded £1,000 for the purchase of a shredder to reuse the materials cut from the green. This scheme will help reduce CO2 emissions, with over 26 tonnes of organic materials cut last year alone which now can be recycled for other uses including garden mulch and compost. A further £1000 grant will go towards installing a new rainwater harvester in Litcham, which will help support 30 allotments and reduce the need for water hoses throughout the summer.

East Tuddenham Community Allotment will use a £500 to train up volunteers on a Master Gardener programme. Organic gardening techniques will be shared on the programme, plus the grant will support the purchase of peat-free compost, bug hotels, and seeds,  bulbs and nectar rich flowers.  A new notice board will also be installed to share information on the project and planned events for the wider community.

The Attleborough Bloomers and North Lopham Parochial Church Council have both been awarded £500 each for the re-wilding local churchyards. Etling Green Residents' Association has also been granted £500 to fit bird, bat and owl boxes, with funding to encourage more wildflowers on the green to attract bees and other pollinators.

Cllr Helen Crane, Executive Member for Sustainability, commented: "As part of our corporate Breckland 2035 commitment to promote sustainability I am delighted to announce this new round of funding, in partnership with Serco, which will help support local wildlife and offset some of the issues caused by climate change. I hope these awards will inspire residents and community groups to explore other ways in reducing their carbon emissions and help local wildlife flourish across Breckland."

Gary Edwards Senior Contract Manager Serco Norfolk said, "We have been impressed by the diverse range of community projects the Environmental Grants will be supporting this year and are looking forward to seeing the positive impact and benefits they will bring to these communities for many years to come.