School wins funding for green scheme

Aug 8 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

A SCHOOL has won £7,000 funding for green plans which include installing a 12-metre high wind turbine and solar roof panels.

Amberley Community Primary School in East Bailey, Killingworth, has been given planning permission for the scheme by North Tyneside Council.

The cash has come from the Local Environmental Action Fund (LEAF) at the Newcastle-based Community Foundation, which is offering grants of up to £20,000 for projects that address environmental issues through actions at a local level.

The fund, previously known as the Local Action on Global Issues Fund, has recently seen another cash injection from donors who have hailed the first three years of grants totaling £500,000.

During the last grant round the Tyne Rivers Trust was awarded more than £15,000 towards a habitat protection and conservation programme totaling £1.15m based on the South Tyne and the Rede tributary of the North Tyne.

Works will include tree planting, peatland repair, de-silting fish spawning gravel beds, and stock exclusion from riverbanks.

Dr Ceri Gibson, trust riverwatch project officer, said: “The work that we are doing is essential for habitat improvements and the survival of many of the native species of plants and animals that live in and along the river’s banks.”

Andrew Davison, chairman of the LEAF committee, said: “We are now into the fourth year of grant making and it is going from strength to strength.

“It is essential that we keep working towards an understanding that the small things we do in everyday life really do make a difference to the bigger environmental picture.

“I’m extremely proud of the work carried out by all of the groups we have funded so far and am looking forward to seeing applications from other groups.”

Grants were also made to the National Trust towards its Sowing and Growing Together project at Gibside.

For more information on LEAF visit www.communityfoundation.org.uk or call (0191) 222-0945.