Local groups and wildlife reap the rewards of mini grant scheme

Three local schools, a football club and a variety of other community groups have benefited from the latest round of funding from the Force for Nature mini grants scheme.

Run by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Trust, the scheme was launched a year ago to assist projects in the local community that either support biodiversity, deliver on conservation or climate change.

Three of the successful applications came from local schools. Ysgol Harri Tudur in Pembroke plan to use their funding to create a wellbeing garden, while Greenhill School, Tenby will be building raised beds for growing seasonal produce, an edible forest garden and creating a meadow site. The only local primary school to benefit from this round of funding was Pembroke Dock Community School, who will be investing in a wildlife-friendly garden, a herb garden, a special area for pollinators and a fruit hedge to produce their own jam.

Johnston Scouts were also awarded a mini grant for habitat restoration and creating more spaces for wildlife around their Scout and Community Hall. As well as planting butterfly-friendly shrubs, they will be gapping up an existing native hedge bank, provide more spaces for wildlife, and installing bee posts.

Other successful applications came from Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society, who will be planting trees on the site of the showground and Tenby Town Council for creating a pollinator friendly garden on Castle Hill; as well as from Fishguard AFC, East Williamston Community Association and South Ridgeway Community Association in Manorbier.

Trustee of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Trust Gwyneth Hayward said: “Once again, the number of applications we received exceeded the amount of money available, which bears testimony to how much the people of Pembrokeshire care about climate change and the loss of biodiversity we’ve seen over recent decades.

“The interest shown by groups of young people in the scheme has been especially pleasing. We hope that their involvement will boost their own connection with nature and foster a lifelong appreciation for the wild places on our doorstep, and the importance of protecting them.”

Funding for the grant has come from Local Places for Nature Fund (administered by WCVA) with support from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority as well as the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Trust fundraising.

To find out more about Force for Nature scheme sign up for the Pembrokeshire Coast Trust news by visiting www.pembrokeshirecoasttrust.wales/get-in-touch.

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Trust is a charity registered by the UK Charity Commission. Its registered charity number is 1179281.