Blackdown Hills Challenge Fund

Blackdown Hills Challenge Fund (climate change and nature)

We have created a fund to support local projects that are tackling the climate emergency and the biodiversity crisis.

We cannot underestimate the importance of the natural world to our very existence. It is vital that we take care of it. A great challenge awaits us – tackling climate change and the loss of biodiversity.

In recent months, many more people have started to appreciate the restorative benefits of accessing our green spaces. We want to ensure that the growing public interest in the UK countryside results in visits to the Blackdown Hills AONB that are safe and positive for all concerned, including our wildlife! Helping people to learn about and appreciate the value of habitats and species is an important part of that work.

Through the Blackdown Hills Challenge Fund we’ve made budget available which will provide grants of up to £5,000 for four to six projects within the Blackdown Hills National Landscape which:

Art materials ready for children’s artwork based on natural habitats.

Mitigate or help the community to adapt to climate change
Protect or increase biodiversity
Engage new and diverse audiences
Promote community action
Create a lasting legacy

Examples of projects could include:

An arts or creative project
A citizen science project
A community initiative to reduce waste or increase recycling
A project focussed on supporting low carbon future
A nature trail
A community nature project

The scheme can provide up to 75% funding for projects, with the remainder of the cost being met by the group, organisation or individual leading the project.

The Challenge Fund is in addition to the grants available through this year’s Sustainable Development Fund.

Funding criteria

Applications will be managed through our Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) process and will be considered by the SDF panel using the same criteria as SDF applications, but with an emphasis on climate change and nature (as described above).

Applicants must demonstrate that they are able to work within Covid-19 Government guidelines.

Deadline for applications: Friday 17 September 2021

All projects must be completed and claimed for by the middle of March 2022.

How to apply

Display board is unveiled at the Beehive wildlife garden

If you have a project in mind for the Blackdown Hills Challenge Fund please email details of your project idea to blackdownhills@devon.gov.uk in the first instance so we can talk through your proposal and assess the suitability of your project, before you complete an application for the grant.

Please include details of:

What you’re proposing to do
The reason funding is required
The amount of funding you are seeking (and how you propose to contribute to the overall cost of the project)
The legacy your project will provide