Devon Environment Foundation Announces New Grants

In March 2021, the Devon Environment Foundation awarded grants to the following grassroots projects working hard to protect and restore nature in Devon…

• An Exmoor community tree nursery* to establish new resilient, native woodland in the upper catchments of the rivers Exe and Barle – preventing downstream flooding and soil erosion, enhancing water quality, and increasing biodiversity.
• A water vole release to re-establish a thriving population of this keystone riparian species on an exemplary regenerative cattle farm – showcasing the benefits of enhancing natural ‘wet farm’, lowland habitats in West Devon.
• A pilot scheme to recruit and train volunteers to conduct water vole surveys – mapping the presence and activity of this endangered species in South Devon, while providing opportunities for citizen science and reconnecting communities with the wildlife on their doorstep.

 

In the nine months since its launch, the DEF has supported a total of twelve Nature-based Solutions to address the climate and nature emergencies in Devon, awarding more than £145,000 of grants.

However, the need for grants to regenerate nature in Devon greatly outweighs the funding the DEF currently has. Further support to fund more projects is greatly appreciated.

You can make a donation here or get in touch if you’d like to support the DEF in other ways.

Meanwhile, if you know of a nature regeneration project that could benefit from a DEF grant, their application form is here.

Thank you for your invaluable support.

* A huge thanks goes to the Devon Community Foundation and Care Moor for Exmoor for contributing toward the tree nursery project, which will replicate the successful Dartmoor Moor Trees model.