Children, young people, and underrepresented communities in the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are set to reap the benefits from more than £25,000 worth of grant funding for a range of exciting community projects.

The annual Sustainable Development Fund awards individuals, organisations, and community groups grants up to £5,000 for projects that will help to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the area. For the 2023-24 year, 11 projects were successful with their applications, with a combined total of £25,259.

The Creative Nature Leaders project from Wyrd Flora will inspire and empower women from diverse ethnic backgrounds to connect with the local environment, learning to engage, respond and create with it through guided walking groups and educational activities.

Creating landscapes (Picture: AONB)

Another project funded will see people from diverse and underrepresented communities in the Ipswich and Colchester areas take part in guided nature/wellbeing walks through the Landscapes for All project and will utilise public transport links in the area to promote sustainable visiting.

Two exciting projects will connect young people from the local area with their surroundings in engaging ways. First, Dedham C of E Primary School will create a forest school for every year group throughout the school year, encouraging families and children to appreciate the beauty of the area. 

Additionally, the Letters in the Landscape project will see three schools within the Dedham Vale take part in walking photography projects, exploring their local environment.

Improved access and sustainability are other key features of the fund. Other grants awarded will see the creation of boardwalks at Tiger Hill Nature Reserve and solar panels at Abberton Rural Training.

To conserve the natural dark skies within the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, funding was awarded to support attaining Internationally recognised accreditation and providing an outreach programme to educate the public.

Funding has also been provided for projects to increase public engagement on wildlife in Boxted village, extending the boat landing stage on the River Stour by Flatford Bridge, and archive reporting at the Court Knoll archaeological site. 

The Sustainable Development Fund aims to benefit the Dedham Vale, with funds provided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Find out more about the Sustainable Development Fund, and other grant giving schemes, at www.dedhamvalestourvalley.org/managing.