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Volunteers with Radnorshire Wildlife Trust removing non-native trees as part of the Black Grouse Recovery Project

Projects boosting biodiversity, transforming green spaces and reducing waste benefit from landfill community scheme funding

Prosiectau sy’n hybu bioamrywiaeth, sy’n gweddnewid mannau gwyrdd ac sy’n lleihau gwastraff yn elwa ar gyllid dan y cynllun cymunedau tirlenwi

Enhancing the biodiversity of a former spoil heap, creating a nature park and upcycling unwanted bikes are some of the projects set to benefit from more than £700,000 of Welsh Government funding.

Enhancing the biodiversity of a former spoil heap, creating a nature park and upcycling unwanted bikes are some of the projects set to benefit from more than £700,000 of Welsh Government funding.

A total of 16 projects across Wales have been chosen in the third round of funding under the Landfill Disposals Tax Community Scheme (LDTCS).

The scheme, which is managed by Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), provides funding for local projects valued between £5,000 and £50,000.

The scheme was established to support local community and environmental projects in areas affected by disposals to landfill, offsetting some of the negative effects of living near a landfill site. It is funded by the Welsh Landfill Disposals Tax (LDT), which replaced UK Landfill Tax in April 2018. 

LDT is a tax on the disposal of waste to landfill and is charged by weight.

Successful projects focusing on enhancing the environment, biodiversity, wildlife, waste minimisation and reuse will receive funding of up to £50,000 each.  

Projects set to benefit include:

  • Groundwork North Wales will receive £49,800 to enhance the biodiversity of a public open space created from the former spoil heap at Plas Power Colliery near Wrexham.
  • Innovate Trust will receive £49,000 supporting adults with learning disabilities to take part in outdoor activities which improve the biodiversity of green spaces across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
  • Keep Wales Tidy will receive £32,000 to improve an area of Merthyr and Gelligaer Common which has been heavily effected by fly tipping and anti-social-behaviour
  • Llyn Parc Mawr will benefit from £46,700 to create a nature park for biodiversity and well-being purposes in Anglesey.
  • Refurbs Flintshire will receive nearly £50,000 to rescue and refurbish unwanted bikes, which would otherwise be disposed of as waste, to be sold on affordably.

The LDTCS accepts applications for funding through two funding windows each year, with applications for the fourth round open until 13 January and a fifth round opening in the spring.

Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, said:

“The successful projects gaining funding will benefit communities across Wales.

“They will not only boost biodiversity, well-being and enhance the local environment, but also help local groups explore their outdoor surroundings and reduce waste that would otherwise go to landfill.”

Minister for Finance and Trefnydd, Rebecca Evans, said:

“I am pleased to see that the Landfill Disposals Tax is supporting yet more fantastic projects. The benefits of this scheme will be felt for generations to come and I would encourage those who are eligible to apply for funding before the next round closes later this month.”

Catherine Miller, WCVA’s Grant Funds Manager, said:

“Projects awarded in 2018-19 have already achieved huge environmental contributions across Wales. We are excited to see what the community led action enabled from this latest round of awards will achieve and the environmental positivity brought about by these grants”

Notes to editors

Please find attached a picture of Volunteers with Radnorshire Wildlife Trust removing non-native trees as part of the Black Grouse Recovery Project.

Successful projects gaining funding in the third round of the scheme include:

Grant Awards – Round 3 2019-20 

Organisation

Theme

Location

Project description

Grant Awarded

Chardon Trust

Wider Environmental Enhancement

Conwy

Biodiversity garden with pond & native plants creating an outdoor classroom & community green space engaging volunteers, schools, visitors & community. Activities: Design, gardening, creating a Field Notebook, wildlife workshops, embedding citizen science in the learning culture, offering educational & therapeutic activities & be a place for wellbeing.                                                           

£38,595

Clydach Cricket Club

Wider Environmental Enhancement

Swansea                       

Intend to modernise, enhance and expand the size of the community clubhouse, creating a safe, welcoming and social environment that is both energy and waste efficient.      

           

£25,000

Flintshire County Council

Wider Environmental Enhancement

Flintshire

Bailey Hill is a public park set in the historic market town of Mold, Flintshire. At its core lies the remains of a Norman Motte & Bailey Castle. Our project aims to refurbish and upgrade the park creating an accessible, safe and vibrant space; whilst revealing its remarkable history.

£49,600

Green Squirrel

Wider Environmental Enhancement

Cardiff

Common Ground is a community hub and green space by and for residents of Splott and Adamsdown, transforming a disused site where locals can learn new skills, grow food, connect with their community and the natural environment, and develop positive solutions to local issues.                       

                                   

£49,999

Groundwork North Wales

Biodiversity / Wider Environmental Enhancement

Wrexham

Our project will further improve the public open space which has been created from the former spoil heap at Plas Power Colliery near Wrexham. This will aid biodiversity, understanding of the habitats and species, and provide better opportunities for learning, use and enjoyment by people of all ages.

£49,816

Harlech and Ardudwy Leisure Centre

Wider Environmental Enhancement

Gwynedd

Supporting the community run leisure centre to engage and contribute to the local community through improving both the outside green spaces and the energy efficiency of the building. Delivering educational and knowledge sharing activities to support and encourage more environmental awareness.

£49,722

Innovate Trust

Biodiversity

Cardiff

Supporting adults with learning disabilities, mental health problems and adults on the autism spectrum to take part in outdoor activities which improve the biodiversity of green spaces across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. Individuals will improve their wellbeing and gain an understanding of the value of the natural world.

£49,038

Keep Wales Tidy

Wider Environmental Enhancement

Merthyr Tydfil

This project will improve an area of Merthyr and Gelligaer Common which is important for heritage and greenspace. This area is heavily affected by fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour and the project will tackle these issues with education, illegal vehicle prevention, heritage and habitat restoration.             

£32,019

Llyn Parc Mawr

Biodiversity /

Wider Environmental Enhancement

Anglesey                       

The project involves the community in creating a beautiful nature park for biodiversity and well-being purposes providing a range of volunteering and education opportunities for all ages. The project will transform a recently harvested 4-hectare woodland area through planting trees and creating a new woodland walk and learning zones.                   

           

£46,742

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Countryside Department

Biodiversity / Wider Environmental Enhancement

Merthyr Tydfil

Restore the cultural and natural heritage of public parks in Merthyr Tydfil and secure their future thereby enriching them for social, environmental and economic benefit.

£49,995

Parish of Aberdare –

St Elvans Community Heritage Project

Wider Environmental Enhancement

Rhondda Cynon Taf

St Elvan’s Community Heritage Project provides a welcoming facility in the centre of Aberdare. The Grade II* listed church will provide a heritage visitor experience and community Hub including Café/Toilets. It will act as a centre for visitor groups,’ community events, cultural activities, access to learning and volunteering.

£34,000

Play Radnor

Wider Environmental Enhancement

Powys

We aim to enlarge and enhance this community building and outdoor space to better fit the needs of the local community, achieving improved accessibility for those with a disability. These improvements will increase the sustainability of the building, improve energy efficiency, whilst providing community spaces that are welcoming for all.                       

           

£49,999

Refurbs Flintshire

Waste Minimisation

Multi County

Our project will rescue and refurbish unwanted bikes which would otherwise be disposed of as waste, to be sold on affordably. We will also engage the community in events to learn basic bike repair/maintenance skills, and art and design workshops to make unique functional items from broken bike parts.                                                

£49,996

South Riverside Community Development Centre Limited

Biodiversity

Cardiff

The Meadow will create an important source of food for pollinating insects and will form a cornerstone of a longer term project to create a bio–diverse super-highway between Bute Park and Leckwith Woods. This will provide a ‘planned’ access route from Cardiff City Centre to and from the Vale of Glamorgan.

£48,096

Wild Elements CIC

Biodiversity / Waste Minimisation / Wider Environmental Enhancement

Gwynedd

Through creating a Gardening for Well-being Club, Pollinators, People and Places:

·       Expands community facilities for leisure and learning

·       Provides work experience and accredited training

·       Extends habitat to increase biodiversity

·       Increases public engagement with, and understanding of, pollinators, biodiversity and the environment

·       Increases engagement with Treborth Botanic Garden and Wild Elements                                               

£47,099

Wild Ground

Biodiversity / Wider Environmental Enhancement

Wrexham                       

The ‘Wild About Johnstown’ project will include a mixture of wildlife-themed volunteering, community events, training days and activities on three nature reserves in Johnstown. This will make the sites more pleasant to visit, improve habitats for wildlife, and provide all members of the community with opportunities to get involved.                                                      

£49,958