Friends of the Lake District provide Landscape Grants to help enhance and safeguard the landscape, environment and cultural heritage of Cumbria.
Objectives of Fund
The grant funds small scale projects and activities/events that focus on protecting, enhancing and experiencing the landscape of Cumbria (and within that flora and fauna, cultural heritage).
Value Notes
Grant awards will normally be in the range of £100 to £2,000 for landscape enhancements, and up to £500 for events.
Match Funding Restrictions
Match funding of at least 25% is required. This can come from other sources, or in-kind contributions, such as volunteer time.
Who Can Apply
Charitable organisations, voluntary and community groups, schools, social enterprises and local councils or conservation agencies can apply.
Organisations must have a bank account and formal terms of reference.
Location
Cumbria
Restrictions
The following will not be funded:
- Individuals.
- Applicants with no bank account or formal terms of reference.
- Core costs such as staff time, office rent, equipment, accommodation and food.
- Works on private land where there is no public access.
- Works which are statutory requirements, eg footpath maintenance.
- Retrospective works.
- Ongoing maintenance, eg grass cutting.
- Village halls or other community buildings unless clear cultural heritage significance.
- Applicants with a poor track record (financial management, project delivery).
- Projects or applicants which conflict with FLD policy principles, eg permanent fell fencing, infrastructure in the open countryside, large scale development.
- Grants for land purchase by other organisations.
- Non cast iron signposts.
- Children’s playgrounds.
- Grants for a repeat project, eg extension of a project already funded (although previously funded applicants for a different project will be considered, priority will be given to new applicants).
- Projects eligible for funding from public sources, eg Countryside Stewardship.
- Capital purchases for equipment.
- More than one application per year from the same applicant.
Eligible Expenditure
The grant funds small scale projects and works that will conserve and enhance the landscape (and within that flora and fauna, cultural heritage), connect people with it and aid their enjoyment of it. Projects must demonstrate a clear and positive benefit to the landscape of Cumbria.
To be eligible, projects must:
- Be located within the Lake District and Cumbria.
- Meet FLD’s primary aim of conserving and enhancing the landscape of the Lake District and Cumbria, and/or
- Enable people to connect with/enjoy the landscape.
- Be accessible to the public.
- Show clear legacy in the long term, in relation to how it will be maintained and resourced, and how it will ensure future protection and enhancement of the local landscape.
- Have consent of the landowner and relevant permissions eg planning.
Grant funding can be used for projects that:
- Improve or enhance the landscape, flora, fauna and cultural heritage of Cumbria.
- Research, restore, raise awareness of cultural or historic features or assets.
- Improve opportunities for people to connect with the landscape, access and enjoy the area, especially for those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to do so, or projects to improve health and wellbeing in the outdoors.
- Research, interpret, celebrate or raise awareness of the special qualities of the area in a sensitive and appropriate manner.
- Promote participation in traditional rural skills.
- Involve the local community or volunteers.
- Make the county and its communities more sustainable so there are less landscape impacts.
Examples of projects that may qualify for a grant are:
- Hedgerows: includes planting, laying and maintenance.
- Walls: renewal and repair of dry-stone walls, new walls instead of fences, etc.
- Tree planting and woodlands: native tree planting in woodlands, public spaces, schools etc as well as conversion from coniferous to native broadleaved; initial moves to more active woodland management.
- Path/Access/Bridges: includes repairs, new pathways, disability access and new access gates.
- Landscape and wildlife gardens: includes sensory, environmental awareness and community gardens.
- Cultural heritage features: includes restoration of features such as pumps, wells, cobbles, limekilns, cast iron signposts, pinfolds, etc.
- Landscape restoration and enhancement: enhancement to landscape areas such as bogs and moors, coastal areas, woodland, village greens, ponds, other village areas, common land, with benefits to flora and fauna.
- Climate change mitigation or sustainability projects eg tree planting, habitat restoration.
- Events: informative events, walks, displays, etc which connect people to the landscape in some way (eg by focusing on landscape, flora and fauna, land management or celebrating local events and cultural heritage). Events/activities which increase understanding about the countryside/natural environment; encourage access to the countryside for everyone; give an opportunity for people to visit a place they would not normally go, and may contribute to health and wellbeing are encouraged.
Priority will be given to landscape enhancement projects rather than events.
Grants can fund costs of transport, materials, publicity, venues, etc.
How To Apply
Applications can be submitted at any time.
An application form and guidelines can be found on the Friends of the Lake District website.
Useful Links
Addresses and contacts
For further information on how to obtain this grant locally, please contact the following:
- Jan Darrall
Policy Officer
Friends of the Lake District
Murley Moss
Oxenholme Road
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 7SS
Tel: 01539 720788
Email: [email protected]