A VARIETY of organisations in West Devon have just been boosted by cash grants, following a meeting of the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Funds grand advisory panel.
The one-year pilot Moor Loyalty scheme, which rewards visitors who spend money within the national park boundary, received a grant of £23,500 towards its running costs. If the scheme proves successful, it could become a model for a nationwide initiative to encourage spending in rural areas.
The Dartmoor Whiteface Sheep Association was granted £10,000 to help ensure the long term future of the breed, while Dartmoor Commoners' Council was awarded £3,000 towards a pony crush, to be used for inspection and welfare purposes.
A spokesman for the fund said: 'The panel was particularly pleased to support an application for £3,520 towards half the cost of converting a disused quarry building at Meldon into a shelter, changing room and cycle store.
'This will enable in the region of 5,000 young people per year to cycle from the Youth Hostel at Okehampton to the quarry area for rock climbing, as part of organised outdoor activity sessions.'
Cycling to Meldon means 16 mini bus journeys can be saved a week between Easter and Autumn.
There is still £84,000 available in the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund for distribution in the current financial year, which ends in March 2004. Applications are invited for projects which develop and test new ways of living in the countryside and have a positive effect on economic, social or environmental viability.
Qualifying projects must also benefit the community rather than individuals and contribute towards Dartmoor National Park Authority objectives.
For more information on the Dartmoor Sustainable Development fund, call Peter Joyce on 01626 832093.