WIREDGOV

Water-based activities, community woodlands and farms opened up and support for groups widened.

Natural England today (10th December 2009) announced a series of new projects as part of its £25 million Lottery-funded grants programme ‘Access to Nature.’

Twelve new projects are benefiting from over £2.5 million from the programme, which is funded through the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces Programme. Access to Nature aims to create opportunities for people from all backgrounds to have greater access to our natural environment.

Announcing this new batch of grants, Helen Phillips, Chief Executive of Natural England said: “Opportunities to enjoy the natural environment should be an entitlement not a luxury and the Access to Nature Scheme has consistently proved its worth in helping communities up and down the country gain better access to wildlife and natural spaces. We are delighted that through today’s grants we are able to support a further series of innovative and exciting community projects that promote the natural environment in such interesting ways.”

‘Peter Wanless, Chief Executive of the Big Lottery Fund said: “We’re delighted to be supporting these projects, which will help thousands of people across England of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy their local environment and learn more about nature.”

Water-based activities create greater access to nature

Blue Sound project

Tackling physical and perceptual barriers to gaining access to natural ‘blue space’, this project will run events ranging from seashore and snorkel safaris to beach cleans and science projects, as the Marine Biological Association uses its expertise to get people involved in the marine environment of the Plymouth Sound and its estuaries.

Lewisham’s Rivers and People project

Lewisham's waterways are about to receive a boost to their profile with this project which will deliver innovative and exciting opportunities to get people involved with the borough's unique river network. Its rivers and riverbanks provide a wonderful habitat for a wide range of species including kingfishers, song thrushes, wagtails, water shrews, naturally seeding plants and a variety of freshwater fish. Encouraging people to put on wellies and get into the rivers to experience this watery environment is new for most people – one which has proven to be an extremely powerful stimulus for local communities to explore, learn and appreciate this fluid and changing environment.

Swinton Lock Activity Centre

Swinton Lock Activity Centre on the South Yorkshire Navigational Canal and River Don will increase the number of people able to enjoy its activities with a special new boat fitted with lifts, that make it fully accessible to disabled people and for wheelchair use. This will enable disabled people and local residents of all ages to experience the waterways. The new boat will also be used to take groups of people out on the canal to learn about the rich wildlife environment of local waterways.

Community woodlands and farms opened up to greater use

Ashington Community Woodland (Northumberland)

This huge community woodland on a 133ha site is one of Europe’s largest reclamation sites yet still remains largely unknown and unexplored by the community on its doorstep. This project will tackle that through a range of events, workshops, educational and volunteering opportunities for all members of the community.

Discovering Nature project

Based at Lawrence Weston Community Farm in north west Bristol, this project will improve access to a very underused area of woodland, giving local people the chance to take part in fun and educational activities.

Do It Like You Do It on Discovery Farm

Run by the Sunderland Education and Training Farm, this project will work with local groups to get more people involved in outdoor activities, helping to tackle anti-social behaviour and getting young adults into new activities, volunteering or training.

Getting Out There

Connecting inner city communities with City Farms, Rural Community Farms, woodland managers, protected landscapes and campsites, this project links young people and families from Bristol and Somerset with the natural environment through arts, music, media, bush craft, forest school and outdoor activities.

Supporting diverse groups to get greater access to the natural environment

Countryside mobility

Run by Living Options Devon, this project will greatly increase the opportunities for mobility- impaired people and their families to experience and enjoy the countryside across the south west by providing specialised mobility vehicles and ensuring they are available for loan or hire at sites throughout the region.

SHEBEEN Outreach

SHEBEEN will work with black and ethnic minority communities and individuals in areas of Sheffield, to encourage greater access and enjoyment of the countryside. This will range from guided walks in local parks and woodlands to volunteering opportunities or placements in conservation work with local environmental organisations.

Access to Nature in Sussex

This project gives people from urban areas the opportunity to take an active role in the management of local green spaces while gaining new skills and confidence. Working with people living in parts of Brighton, Hove and Hastings, it will provide greater opportunities for people to enjoy the natural world on their doorstep.

Call of the Wild project

The Sussex-based Call of the Wild project offers new and innovative environmental programmes for young people. It will benefit disadvantaged groups such as those not in education, employment or training. Tailored programmes, from youth training programmes to woodland activities, will create opportunities for new groups to get more involved with the natural world, leading to formal accreditation.

Step into Nature!

Run by Rushmoor Healthy Living, which covers Aldershot, Farnborough and surrounding areas, this project combines appreciating the environment with healthy exercise. Available to people of all ages and backgrounds, activities will provide an opportunity for participants to get out into the countryside, learn about wildlife and fauna , while getting fit and healthy at the same time.

Bury accessible natural green space

This project will develop and improve accessible natural green space across the Borough of Bury - providing formal and informal training for people about how to manage the natural environment on their doorstep. The emphasis will be on working with children and young people.

Notes to editors:

1. About Natural England

Natural England is the government’s independent advisor on the natural environment. Established in 2006 our work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public

• We establish and care for England’s main wildlife sites, ensuring that over 4,000 National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest are looked after and improved.

• We work to ensure that England’s landscapes are effectively protected, designating England’s National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and Marine Conservation Zones, and advising widely on their conservation.

• We run England’s Environmental Stewardship green farming schemes that deliver over £400 million a year to farmers and landowners, enabling them to enhance the natural environment across two thirds of England’s farmland.

• We fund, manage, and provide scientific expertise for hundreds of conservation projects each year, improving the prospects for thousands of England’s species and habitats.

• We promote access to the wider countryside, helping establish National Trails and coastal trails and ensuring that the public can enjoy and benefit from them.

For further media information contact the Natural England press office on 0845 603 9953, out of hours 07970 098005.

2. Full details of how to apply and details of funding are available on our Access to Nature pages, or telephone The Changing Spaces Advice line on 0845 3671 671

3. Natural England is delivering this programme as the lead organisation in a consortium of 11 other organisations who have helped shape and develop it. The consortium comprises BTCV, British Waterways, Environment Agency, the Forestry Commission, Greenspace, Groundwork UK, Land Restoration Trust, RSPB, The National Trust, the Wildlife Trusts and the Woodland Trust.

4. The Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme was launched in November 2005 to help communities enjoy and improve their local environments. The programme is funding a range of activities from local food schemes and farmers markets, to education projects teaching people about the environment. Natural England was appointed as a Changing Spaces award partner, responsible for distributing £25m through its Access to Nature scheme.

The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004. It was established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888 Out of hours: 07867 500 572
Public enquiries line: 08454 102030 Textphone: 08456 021 659
Full details of the work of the Big Lottery Fund, its programmes and awards are available on their website.