Projects which increase biodiversity and encourage public access to green spaces in South Oxfordshire are set to benefit from £50,000 in grants.
South Oxfordshire District Council has released the funds following the success of its grant scheme over its first 12 months.
The initiative, set up in September 2023, is a partnership with the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE) to support nature recovery efforts and reduce the impacts of climate change.
The money has been awarded to a variety of organisations, including parish councils and environmental charities, in Thame, Wheatley, East Hagbourne, Little Wittenham, Benson, and Chalgrove.
The projects have ranged from the creation of ponds and butterfly banks to providing protective fencing for a meadow conservation area and boardwalk improvement to allow managed public access to a wetland habitat.
In 2023/24, Benson Parish Council received two grants, while The Howe Trust, Earth Trust, East Hagbourne Parish Council, The Chiltern Society, and Thame Green Living were also awarded funding.
Councillor David Rouane, South Oxfordshire District Council leader and cabinet member for climate action, said: "We’ve been delighted by the take-up of the fund over the past year which has gone towards supporting some wonderful projects to support green spaces in South Oxfordshire.
"Extending the fund and therefore the opportunities to improve access to green spaces and to create new wildlife areas is vital both for increasing biodiversity and also people’s wellbeing.
"We’re partnering with TOE again to administer these grants as they have specialist knowledge and experience with funding good quality biodiversity projects."
Ranging from £1,000 to £15,000, the grants can be used for tree and hedgerow planting or restoring community orchards, ponds, and nature-rich meadows.
Alternatively, they could be put towards the improvement of access to the countryside and green spaces.
This could be achieved by replacing stiles with gates for better accessibility and improving pathways.
Ben Heaven Taylor, chief executive of TOE, said: "It was great to be able to support these seven community projects across SODC last year with the Community Infrastructure Levy funding.
"We’re very pleased to receive this second tranche of funding enabling us to continue supporting grassroots projects across the district."
The council and TOE are keen to see more projects benefit from this funding to continue the good work achieved in the first year.
The fund uses money from the Community Infrastructure Levy paid by developer contributions, and early applications are encouraged.
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