Sustainability Fund Helps Broadland Bloom with Biodiversity!

The Sustainability Fund wil help support people across Broadland to improve biodiversity in their local environments and communities with grants of up to £1,000.

2023 was an incredibly successful year for the Sustainability Fund, with 11 grassroots projects given £9,058 funding in Broadland. This year, Veolia will continue to fund great local initiatives that protect and reserve resources but is particularly interested in projects that make a positive, long term difference to biodiversity.

In previous years, successful projects have delivered long-term social and environmental benefits to local Broadland communities, including:

• TCV Norfolk (The Conservation Volunteers), the charity covers many areas across Broadland improving green areas for wildlife and the public to enjoy. It also gives volunteers the chance to get involved and be outdoors which benefits mental health and wellbeing. The funding supported 4 different projects.
• Supporting Wetland Areas of Coltishall, Coltishall Commons Trust is managing and improving 10 acres of marshland for the benefit of wildlife and improving pathway access and picnic areas for the public to enjoy.
• Blickling Fishing Club River Restoration, is increasing the health of the Upper Bure river between Itteringham and Ingworth Mills. This will be achieved by fencing off a stretch of the river to prevent cattle from going into the water. The overall aim of their voluntary work on the river is to have a vibrant gravel-bedded chalk stream with flourishing native species.

Veolia’s Sustainability Fund is open to not-for-profit organisations, community groups, or individuals in areas where the company delivers waste and street cleansing services for the community. Up to £1,000 in funding is available per project and applicants can opt to request in-kind resources or volunteers to help them deliver ecological transformation.

Applications can be made via Veolia’s website or via Spacehive, Veolia’s crowdfunding partner. The fund will be open for applications until Monday 30 September.

All applications will be considered, but projects should aim to fulfil at least one of the following criteria: enhancing biodiversity; promoting sustainable behaviours (reduce, reuse, recycle); protecting or preserving resources and the environment by using recycled, reused, or reclaimed materials.

Duncan McBurney, Contract Manager at Veolia, said:  

“I am always thrilled to see projects we support through the Sustainability Fund coming to life, and look forward to reviewing all the creative and inspiring applications for this year.  Biodiversity is one of the pillars of ecological transformation and we’re proud to be supporting the communities we work in every day to make their local areas even greener.”

William Heal, Blickling Fishing Club, said:

“Blickling Fishing Club is extremely grateful for the generous grant provided by Veolia to buy the materials necessary to repair three areas where cattle can access the river safely without causing damage to the banks. During our Spring work parties, the volunteers have also fixed fencing in 7 separate locations and built a series of deflectors in the river to manage the current.  We have also reinforced stretches of riverbank that had collapsed due to tunnelling by invasive American signal crayfish. These measures have helped to maintain the water quality of the Upper Bure chalk stream, to support biodiversity and the safety of those who use the river for wild swimming.”

Councillor Jan Davis, Broadland Portfolio Holder for Environmental Excellence said:

“In 2023 Broadland District Council declared a climate and biodiversity emergency, highlighting the dangers of climate change and the importance of biodiversity. We understand the need to protect and support our local environment and welcome the Sustainability Fund and what it is managing to achieve by helping local initiatives.”