Sustainable Development Fund
This grant scheme, administered by the Chilterns Conservation Board, is available to support projects which bring environmental, social and economic benefits to the Chilterns AONB. Individuals, groups and organisations can apply. Enquiries are welcome about applications for projects which will be completed by 28 February 2013.
Eligible projects will:
- Help to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the AONB
- Increase the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the AONB
- Bring environmental, social and economic benefits to the AONB
- Have the demonstrable support or involvement of communities.
For more details of funding criteria, size of grants available and the application process, please download guidelines below.If you would like to discuss your project ideas or have any queries, please contact Kath Daly, Countryside Officer, telephone 01844 355524, email kdaly@chilternsaonb.org
Deadlines for applications 2012-13
- Friday 13th April 2012
- Monday 14th May 2012
- Friday 29th June 2012
- Friday 24th August 2012
Case Studies
These are examples of projects which received grants from the Sustainable Development Fund during 2010-11. They give an indication of the range of work and types of organisations supported by the Fund.
Promoting local producers around High Wycombe
Finding places to buy locally-produced food in the High Wycombe area is now much easier thanks to the production of a local food directory. The community group Transition Town High Wycombe researched the area within a 10 mile radius of the town centre and compiled a list of the farmers, growers, retailers and caterers who produce or source food locally. The result is a listing of over 100 sources of local produce, from farm shops and farmers’ markets to vineyards, local retailers, pubs and at the farm gate. Helped by a £1000 grant from the SDF, Transition Town High Wycombe produced a booklet called Food on Our Doorstep containing full details of all these sources. They also established a website www.food-on-our-doorstep.org.uk for those who want to access the information online.
Roman life in the Hambleden Valley
In 2007 Chiltern Archaeology began a one year project using local volunteers to investigate the Roman archaeology of the Hambleden Valley near Henley-on-Thames. The fieldwork focussed on two Roman villa sites. Yewden Villa was originally excavated in 1912 and much of the work involved reassessing the artefacts found and the original interpretation of its structure. Amongst the finds were the bones of 97 infants, and research produced the shocking discovery that they all died around the time of birth, suggesting they were the victims of infanticide. In addition to this gruesome revelation the project also catalogued and dated thousands of pieces of pottery and determined the precise size and shape of a Roman villa at Mill End next to the Thames. A grant of £3000 from the SDF helped Chiltern Archaeology to complete the research, produce a publication detailing the extensive discoveries of the project and give talks and workshops.
Encouraging rare birds at Tring Reservoirs
Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust manage Wilstone Reservoir near Tring, which is surrounded by one of Hertfordshire’s largest reedbeds. Reedbeds are highly important to birds as places to shelter, feed and 
breed but they need regular management to make them suitable for a wide range of species. HMWT was keen to make the reedbeds at Wilstone and the neighbouring Marsworth Reservoirs more attractive to nationally-rare birds including bitterns and corn buntings, and obtained a grant of £3000 from the SDF to carry out a variety of works. Channels in the reedbeds were opened up and a number of new beds planted. The work is paying off as four bitterns were recorded at Marsworth Reservoir on 6th February 2011, a record for the site. In addition an otter has been seen in one of the new channels and the wetter reedbed has attracted a roost of over 100 corn buntings.
Caring for Studham Common
Studham Common next to Studham village near Dunstable covers 68 acres and contains a mosaic of open grassland, scrub thickets, ancient hedgerows and woodland. It has great value for wildlife and is one of only two sites in Bedfordshire where the common dormouse is found. Like all commons, Studham needs regular management to keep it in good shape for wildlife and for people wanting to enjoy its green tranquillity. The Friends of Studham Common is a very active local group which has been carrying out monthly work parties since 1997. A grant of £1,051 from the SDF helped to fund equipment needed by the group.
Blazing a trail
Trailblaze is a new kind of endurance challenge, in which trail runners attempt to complete as much as possible of one of the UK’s National Trails in one go. The runner inserts a timing tag into small battery powered checkpoints installed along the Trail to record their progress and the results go into an online leaderboard to provide proof of their achievement and a challenge to others. Enduranc
elife Ltd, the company behind the Trailblaze concept, received £2,500 from the SDF to help fund the installation of checkpoints along The Ridgeway National Trail.
The Trailblaze challenge is not a race, but something that can be completed by individuals at any time because of the permanently-installed checkpoints. 20% of entry fee income will be given to Natural England for the upkeep of The Ridgeway.
“The concept is not just about offering an endurance challenge but to give participants the chance to enjoy stunning countryside, explore places they haven’t visited and to provide some resources to help look after our National Trails,” said Bob Maycock of Endurancelife Ltd.
