The Kentish Stour Countryside Project has been
successful in applying for a European Regional Development Fund Interreg
IIIa Grant of £117,250.
The Transmanche Integrated Landscape Project is a
partnership project which involves the Parc Naturel Régional des Caps et
Marais d’Opale, the Office National des Forêts, the Kent Downs Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the Whitecliffs Countryside Project. The
total value of the grant to the three Kent bodies is £376,937.
The Kentish Stour Countryside Project will be using the
money to provide incentives to landowners to improve landscape quality,
wildlife habitat and access in the Stour Valley; and to develop work with
local communities to manage ‘Greenspace.’ There will be exchanges of
information with the French through visits and workshops and volunteers
will carry out work programmes in France.
Dr Alan Rogers Chairman of the Kentish Stour Countryside
Project says "This funding will be very useful in improving the
quality of the local countryside, and in supporting landowners,
conservation bodies and local communities in managing the countryside.
Funding is often available for projects, it is just a question of knowing
where to look and having the right people in place to apply for it."
Jon Shelton, Countryside Manager with the Kentish Stour
Countryside Project says, "We have matched money provided by other
organisations including Brett Environment Trust and Kent County Council to
succeed with this grant and we are grateful to these organisations. If we
are successful in delivering results from this application we hope to make
a further application in 2004."
