05 June, 2015
North East nature group offers community funding
The North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership kicked off its Action Earth Project this week with a successful litter pick-up around Torry Battery in Aberdeen.
The partnership is now accepting applications for projects which can make a similar difference around the North East. Each project is eligible for up to £500 of funding. With core funding from Scottish Natural Heritage, Action Earth is organised by the charity, Volunteering Matters, and encourages volunteer activity on practical environmental projects.
Ewen Cameron of Scottish Natural Heritage in Aberdeen said:
“In the last few years, the dolphin activity around the mouth of Aberdeen harbour has drawn more and more people to Torry Battery. Unfortunately, the experience had been marred by the litter in the area. Hopefully the clean-up will encourage people to keep it that way.”
Rose Toney, Co-ordinator of the Biodiversity Partnership said:
“We’re looking for more community groups to come up with ideas for projects that could make a real difference in the outdoor green spaces in their communities. Acton Earth provides a little boost of cash that is often all we need to get a local group or project going on some environmental improvement or even to create a new habitat.”
Volunteering Matters have been using some of a large block grant from SNH to pass on smaller grants to organisations across Scotland who tackle environmental improvement projects in their own communities and local areas.
Ewen added:
“Everyone in Scotland shares responsibility for our natural heritage. But it can often be much more effective if we give money to an organisation like Volunteering Matters, which can then pass on small grants to help local groups get their own projects underway. The grant which filtered down to the North East Biodiversity Partnership is a great example of how a little can go a long way.”
To register a project, see what projects are already taking place in your area, or add a project idea, register at http://actionearth.csv.org.uk or call Action Earth at Volunteering Matters on 0131 222 9083.
MEDIA QUERIES
Contact Rose Toney, NESBAP coordinator at rose.toney@hutton.ac.uk
- Action Earth is organised by Volunteering Matters, 12 Torphichen Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8JQ.
- Volunteering Matters (formerly CSV - Community Service Volunteers) is the UK volunteering charity and creates opportunities for people to play an active part in the life of their community through volunteering, learning and community action. See www.volunteeringmatters.org.uk for more information.
Contact information
- Name
- SNH Media
- snhmedia@snh.gov.uk
NatureScot is Scotland's nature agency. We work to enhance our natural environment in Scotland and inspire everyone to care more about it. Our priority is a nature-rich future for Scotland and an effective response to the climate emergency. For more information, visit our website at www.nature.scot or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nature_scot
’S e NatureScot buidheann nàdair na h-Alba. Bidh sinn a’ neartachadh àrainneachd na h-Alba agus a’ brosnachadh dhaoine gu barrachd suim a chur ann an nàdar. Tha e mar phrìomhachas againn gum bi nàdar na h-Alba beairteach agus gun dèilig sinn gu h-èifeachdach le èiginn na gnàth-shìde. Tha an tuilleadh fiosrachaidh aig www.nature.scot no air Twitter aig https://twitter.com/nature_scot
