Community groups in Highland Perthshire and across Perth and Kinross are being invited by the Council to apply for funding from the Nature Restoration Fund, to help increase biodiversity where they live before the deadline on the 30th of September.
The fund aims to target the biodiversity crisis by addressing some of its causes, including habitat loss and fragmentation and the threat from invasive species.
Speaking about the fund, Councillor Richard Watters, convenor of Perth & Kinross Council’s Climate Change and Sustainability Committee, said: “These nature restoration projects are key to building healthy ecosystems, to help protect and reverse the decline of our biodiversity throughout Perth and Kinross, creating a natural environment that can be enjoyed by all.
“Community groups are best placed to know what is needed in their areas and I would urge people to submit their applications now.
“These projects may be small, but they can make a big different to the environments we live in and the wildlife we share it with.”
An award of £176,000 has been made to Perth and Kinross Council for 2022 to 2023, with this money making up the fund, with £106,000 being used by the Council and the Tayside Biodiversity Partnership to take forward projects in conjunction with the local communities.
The remaining £70,000 will be made available to community groups to help realise nature restoration projects where they live. Applications can be made from the end of this month, for funding from £1,250 to £12,500.
Applications are open to projects with the following outcomes:
- Creation, restoration or enhancement of natural habitat OR
- Creating or connecting habitat corridors including waterways, pollinator highways or other natural networks OR
- Removing invasive species OR
- Nature based solutions that further biodiversity AND address climate change.
Last year funding was used to help deliver a tree corridor in the South Inch, as well as a thousand trees at Perth Crematorium. It also supports restoration of the South Inch SUDS pond, and the planting of pollinator friendly plants in Kinross, Perth, Glenfarg and Pitlochry.
Kinross-shire Civic Trust groups raingarden project received funding as did the Biodiversity Blairgowrie and Rattray Group, among a wide variety of projects supported.
Other projects included supporting pollinators with wildflower planting, introducing native trees and pollinator friendly gardening in schools, providing homes for wildlife, reinvigorating SUDS ponds for amphibians, implementing innovative surface water measures, giving Biodiversity Towns and Villages a head start, lots of pollinator friendly planting across greenspaces and green graveyards, and plenty of new homes for birds, bats and hedgehogs across towns and schools.
To find out more about the fund and how to apply visit https://www.pkc.gov.uk/naturefund