The North Devon Environmental Trust have been successful in a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund which will be match funded by Power Vault. The project which is for 2 years, will connect people with nature in the Parish of Braunton and will help secure the financial future of the Braunton Countryside Centre.
The project will employ a project coordinator and work experience students with the aims of developing nature based events, activities and experiences in the Parish of Braunton, promoting the Braunton Countryside Centre as the nature and cultural heritage hub at the centre of the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere. As well as creating new information and displays the funding will support the development of online interactive materials. The Centre will be developing new business opportunities to secure new income streams which will support its financial future such as increased sales items and membership schemes.
An important part of the project will be to engage with people usually disadvantaged from taking part in nature and the Trust will be working with Live Well Braunton to support those who may be socially isolated from accessing nature. There will also be a lot more activities aimed at young people to ensure knowledge transfer of local biodiversity and ecological skills to the next generation.
Ken Rutherford, Chairman commented “We are delighted to have been awarded this funding which will be transformative for our organisation. Having these extra resources means we will deliver on a number outcomes including raising awareness of the unique wildlife and habitats in Braunton which make up the core of the UNSECO designated Biosphere. We are very grateful to the National Lottery players as the funding will help us engage our community and visitors in nature recovery and climate action as well as supporting a diverse range of people access natural heritage.”
Notes To Editors:
The Braunton Countryside Centre is located in Caen Street, Braunton, Devon EX33 1BG. Website:
www.brauntoncountrysidecentre.org
Project partners include Braunton Parish Council, Live Well Braunton, The Tarka Trust, North Devon Biosphere and the North Devon AONB.
The project is a 2 year project with a total fund is £162,000.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund:
Using money raised by the National Lottery, we Inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk.f
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund
Since The National Lottery began in 1994, National Lottery players have raised over £43 billion for projects and more than 635,000 grants have been awarded across the UK.
