Local environmental charities will receive nearly 250,000 from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to carry out projects over the next three months. Over 40 projects will receive funding of up to 10,000 each to carry out work to benefit Northern Ireland’s people and wildlife.

Bats in Londonderry, red squirrels in Fermanagh, puffins on the Copeland Islands, seabirds in Strangford Lough and butterflies throughout Northern Ireland will benefit.

Selected projects will decrease wildfires in the Belfast Hills, construct weirs in the Dun River in the Causeway Coast and Glens and manage woodland at the Crom Estate in Fermanagh. Port Moon Bothy will have improved facilities, sand dune erosion will be managed by volunteers at Tyrella and children in the north east will hatch salmon in their own classrooms and release them in local rivers. Anti–littering campaigns, environmental education websites, school energy conservation programmes, a poster promotion of natures financial benefits, a sustainable food conference and digitisation of architectural records have also been supported.

Minister Attwood stated: “This is a fantastic programme which challenged local environmental charities to devise and deliver projects on a very short timescale. I am delighted with the level of interest and the quality of the proposals. It is good to be able to congratulate the groups on meeting the challenge set by my Environment Agency. I look forward to seeing the results of all of these exciting local environmental projects.”

Sue Christie, representing Northern Ireland Environment Link which administers the fund on behalf of NIEA commented: “The successful projects were among 70 applications received from 30 organisations that applied for funding under the initiative. It is clear that a relatively small amount of cash can enable volunteers to deliver great value for local communities. Now the work begins, so look out for lots of environmental action over the next few months! The judging panel was greatly impressed by the applications and is delighted that Minister Attwood and his staff have enabled this work to take place.”

The programme demonstrates the immediate demand for environmental projects; if the groups are able to fully deliver these projects it is hoped that a similar scheme may be available in future years.

Read the press release in full here.