A huge variety of projects from animating local history to safer cycling received funding at the recent Landscape Heritage Grants panel
The largest grant of £15,000 was awarded to Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners for their new Estuary Explorers programme which aims to open up the educational opportunities of Yar Estuary.
This will include creating an interactive sensory trail on Yarmouth Green and taking groups on canoe safaris along the river. Estuary Explorers kits containing activities and learning resources focusing on the wildlife of the area will be produced and loaned out to schools and groups.
The southern end of the Yar Estuary will also benefit from a new interpretation board highlighting the local wildlife. It is being created by the Freshwater Village Association with their grant of £1,575. The artwork is being designed by local artist Boris Moscoff and it is hoped members of the community will also be involved in the process.
The Freshwater Bay Residents Association also received funding to install an information board on the flora and fauna of the Bay. In Totland, the parish council received £4,437 to plant new hedging along Turf Walk.
Highlight on History
Initiatives to raise awareness of the rich history of the West Wight also featured in the grants awarded.
Yarmouth Town Council received £13,330 for its Historical Yarmouth Promotion project. This will enable them to install a series of plaques, signs and an information board at key sites around the old town wall. A colour booklet will also be produced setting out the town’s history.
The National Trust will be installing 5 new information boards along Compton Down ridge with their grant of £1,755. These will explain about the wildlife, history and archaeology of the area and how the Trust and its tenant farmer look after the Downs to preserve its special character.
Seascape survey
A detailed survey of the West Wight seascape is to be conducted by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust thanks to their grant of £13,500.
A programme of habitat and species surveys will be carried out on and off shore with the help of local volunteers and scuba diving clubs.
Funding for Youth
Several of the projects to receive funding aim to work with local youngsters.
The Friend’s of St Saviour’s Primary School received £3,663 to run a series of workshops and activities for West Wight families. These will include fossil hunting, rock pooling, reed weaving, bat and squirrel walks and even excavating local clay for pottery making.
The school will be working with Island artists such as Eccleston George, geologists and environmental organisations.
Brighstonians have great plans
Brighstone School Association hope to use their £3,552 grant to promote quiet cycle routes between the village and Shorwell and improve road signage. Students will also create a leaflet on the Manors and Mills situated along the lanes.
Also in Brighstone the Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology will be working with the local brownie pack to create a stop motion animation retelling the story of the local shipwreck of the ‘Londonier’. A grant of £3,654 will be used to hold a series of workshops and create a DVD which will be sent to youth groups across the Island as well as Europe.
Your chance to share in £100,00
28 projects have so far shared funding of over £184,500, but there is still one grant panel left. So if you have a project which fits within the aims of the scheme get in touch.
Grants of between £1,000 and £15,000 are available for projects which meet either one or both of the criteria. These are projects which will conserve and enhance the historic landscape or projects which help more people learn about the heritage of the area.
Get in touch
We welcome applications from individuals and organisations including public bodies, community groups, private landowners and farmers. Applications will require an element of matchfunding, which varies depending on the type of applicant.
Application forms and guidance notes can be downloaded from the WWLP website or you can email our grants officer Krissy Lloyd on [email protected] if you would like to discuss your ideas.
The final deadline to submit completed application forms is 28th April. However we advise groups to submit a pre-application form as soon as possible.
