MORE than £2-million of Government funding has helped instigate projects in the Tamar Valley over the past year from wildlife conservation to helping fund a community bus. The money was from the Sustainable Development Fund to encourage individuals, community groups and businesses in areas of outstanding natural beauty to work together to develop practical and long term solutions to the management of their activities. Awareness of nature conservation, natural fuel sources and construction materials, rural skills and re-establishing orchards in the Tamar Valley, once famous for its market gardening, have all been in the spotlight over the past year. The 41 projects granted money included the setting up of new group by the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, the planting of 12 new orchards, a day for the construction industry at Morwellham Quay promoting sustainable construction techniques attended by more than 200 people and the Gulworthy Wood Fuel project. A new community bus for the Tamar Valley, which transports the elderly and isolated to towns and villages, received a contribution from the fund which was accessed through the Tamar Valley team. Project officer Stephen Russell said: 'What has been achieved over the past year is that people have started to think a bit more about taking a longer term approach to their projects whether it is about managing their village hall or rural skills training. 'It has been about re-emphasising the links with the natural environment and making all aspects of the projects as sustainable as possible.' The Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has £63,000 to allocate during the 2007/2008 financial year for sustainable development projects and the closing date is July 2. Visit the website http://www.tamarvalley.org.uk">www.tamarvalley.org.uk for an application form. Applicants are advised to discuss project ideas with AONB staff before submitting a completed application to ensure eligibility. For further information contact Jacqui Orange on 01579 351316.
