Farmers and landowners are among those invited to apply for the grants programme, launched by Peter Baldwin and Lisbet Rausing as a collaboration between their charitable fund, Lund, and SCF.
Grants will be between £500 and £10,000. Recognised as an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), the High Weald is an “exceptional medieval landscape, with a wealth of wildlife and historic features that provide a strong sense of place, enrich lives and inspire community pride,” according to SCF.
Examples of projects that will be considered for funding might include improvements to habitats such as woodland, wetland, meadow and hedgerow management, enhancement and restoration; orchard creation; removing non native tree species; community gardening; greening of amenity spaces in and around villages; reducing sign pollution; clearing litter and improving rights of way. Sussex Lund is open to anyone who has a project that will benefit the landscape of the High Weald AONB. This can include charities, community groups, schools, churches, councils, farmers and landowners. Private landowners or “for profit” organisations will have to show that the landscape and/or public benefit is greater than any private gain.
The project must take place within the High Weald AONB: a map of the area is on the SCF website. Applications are welcome for projects in the wider countryside as well as within and around villages and hamlets, in areas such as churchyards, school grounds, recreation areas and roadside verges. Sussex Lund will not support education and interpretation projects, or make grants that are solely for core costs.
Ideally applicants will spend the grant within a year of accepting their grant offer but projects that take longer will be considered.
There is no requirement for match funding. However the grants panel will take into account an applicant’s own or others’ commitment to the project in the form of cash, in kind support or time.
If a project meets Sussex Lund criteria, applicants should complete and submit a Sussex Lund grants application form, available at www.sussexgiving.org.uk or by calling the SCF office on 01273 409440.
The deadline for completed applications and supporting documents is 5pm, Friday 15 April 2016. Applications will be scored and presented to the Sussex Lund grants panel in May and applicants will be informed of the panel’s decision by mid June.
• Anyone owning land within three kilometres of the National Grid’s transmission line at the eastern end of the AONB may be eligible for grant aid for landscape enhancement projects. Projects will need to be submitted through the High Weald AONB Partnership.
Contact Tamara Taylor or Matt Pitts, the High Weald AONB land management advisers, on 01424 723011.
Pictured: This map shows the project area in the High Welad AONB where grant may be available for landscape enhancement