Peterborough environment charity given sizeable grant from government green recovery fund

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced the 68 projects that have been awarded grants between £62k and £3.8 million to kick-start a pipeline of nature-based projects while creating and retaining jobs.

The projects, spread across England, will see around 800,000 trees planted, protected landscapes and damaged habitats such as moorlands, wetlands and forests restored, alongside wider conservation work. The projects will also support environmental education and connecting people with green spaces.

PECT’s Forest for Peterborough project is one of the first environmental projects awarded a

grant from the government’s £80 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund.

Environmental charity PECT launched Forest for Peterborough in 2010, with the aim of planting one tree for every city resident by 2030.

On Sunday and Monday (December 6-7) they planted a Tiny Forest at Nene Valley Community Centre on Candy way.

PECT’s CEO, Carly Leonard, said: “Trees mean so much, not only for the quality of life of residents today, but for future generations of Peterborough citizens.

“Trees help to combat climate change, improve the quality of air we breathe, make the city less vulnerable to flooding and other extreme weather, provide shade and shelter,encourage wildlife, and improve residents’ health and wellbeing.

“We’re delighted to receive this funding to secure the future of Forest for Peterborough and support the achievement of its aims and ambitions.

“During these difficult times of Covid-19, the funding will secure the project for a further 18-month period, it will also allow the addition of a trainee to the team, and enable us to directly engage with hundreds of people from local businesses, schools and communities through a series of planting days.”

The Green Recovery Challenge Fund is a key part of the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan to kick-start nature recovery and tackle climate change. The fund is being delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.

Environment Minister, Rebecca Pow, said: “These projects will drive forward work across England to restore and transform our landscapes, boost nature and create green jobs, and will be a vital part of helping us to build back greener from coronavirus.

“I look forward to working with environmental organisations as these projects help address the twin challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change, while creating and retaining jobs as part of the green recovery.”

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive, National Lottery Heritage Fund, added: “Supporting our natural environment is one of the most valuable things we can do right now.

“All these projects are of huge benefit to our beautiful countryside and wildlife, but will also support jobs, health and wellbeing, which are vitally important as we begin to emerge from the coronavirus crisis.”

The government’s forthcoming Environment Bill puts the environment at the centre of policy making to ensure that we have a cleaner, greener and more resilient country for the next generation. The fund is supporting a range of nature conservation and recovery and nature-

based solutions projects, which will contribute towards government’s wider 25 Year

Environment Plan commitments, including commitments to increase tree-planting across the UK to 30,000 hectares per year by 2025.

To find out more and get involved with PECT, call 01733 568408 or visit www.pect.org.uk.