CONSERVATION & DESIGN
You should find the answers to many of your questions on this page. We also point you in the right direction if you want more information or need to make contact.
Wildlife Enhancement Scheme
What is the scheme set up to support?
Grant assistance may be offered to support special activities that conserve, enhance, restore or create habitats or features that sustain our biodiversity. Examples might include the creation of a
wildlife pond, site interpretation, erecting bat and bird boxes, one-off habitat management (e.g. starting off a meadow management or creation project). Community orchards will be given priority support.
Who can apply?
Private individuals, parish councils and community groups. Profit-making bodies will not normally be eligible unless the biodiversity interest is separate from the business aspect or if there is a special case (such as enhancing farmland).
Please make sure that you complete the appropriate grant application form:
- Wildlife enhancement scheme - Grant Application - individuals for private or company applications.
- Wildlife enhancement scheme - Grant Application - public organisations for community groups or parish councils.
- Wildlife Enhancement Scheme - Guidance notes
If you are not sure which form is applicable please contact us.
When can I apply?
Applications can be submitted all year round.
How much can be applied for?
The grant scheme is entirely discretionary and is subject to availability of resources. Grants of up to 50% can be offered. It is unlikely that grants of over £100 will be offered to private individuals where there is no direct benefit to the public as a whole. Grants of over £1000 may be available to community groups. Community orchard projects could attract a higher level of funding if they provide multiple biodiversity benefits. Contact the Ecology Officer to discuss how much grant your project may receive.
What information do I need to supply?
The grant application form supplied with these guidance notes will usually provide us with all of the information that we need to judge your application. However, if you are applying for a grant for an activity on a site that is not within your ownership then we will require written agreement from the landowner before your project can be considered.
If your idea already has the support of other bodies (such as a parish council or Natural England) then a copy of any relevant correspondence would be useful.
You should be aware that some activities may require the consent of another agency (such as works on a watercourse) or a contractor/operative may be legally bound to hold appropriate certificates of competency. We may ask to see this documentation.
You should normally obtain at least two written competitive quotes. These should be provided to us along with details of why you have selected your particular contractor/supplier. Full details of all expenditure related to the project should be provided.
When will I know if my application has been successful?
You should normally receive a grant offer within four weeks of us having received your completed application form (providing you have supplied all of the information).
However, more complex applications will need to be more carefully judged, requiring additional time. You will be notified if this is the case.
Will my grant award be subject to conditions?
Yes, we will seek to control how you use the grant in order to ensure that it is put to effective use. Specific conditions will be included in the formal grant offer letter. Conditions are likely to cover the following areas:
- Publicity and photo opportunities
- Informing the Conservation & Design service when the activity has been started and completed (to enable inspections or to meet with contractors)
- Allowing inspection of the site or feature by Officers, Council Members and the public by prior arrangement
- Appropriate monitoring
- That the work is completed within a year of the grant being offered
- That the grant shall be returned where it has been inappropriately used
- That payment is made on the production of final invoices from the selected contractor / supplier
- Failure to comply with conditions may warrant return of the payment.
How are the applications assessed?
Each completed grant application will be discussed with the applicant and a site visit made where necessary. Those activities that clearly make a contribution towards the Cambridgeshire Biodiversity Action Plan will be favoured. The broad themes of the plan include rivers and wetlands, trees and woodland, farmland, the built environment and dry grasslands.
Further details of the habitat and species action plans can be obtained from The Biodiversity Partnership Co-ordinator (01223 715697), or visit Cambridgeshire County Council's Action for Wildlife (This link will open in a new window) pages.
What is not eligible?
- Retrospective applications (i.e. work carried out before you are offered and have accepted a formal grant offer)
- Routine maintenance costs
- Core funding of expenses for community or wildlife groups
- Work that is a statutory requirement, such as footpath clearance
- Projects and initiatives that do not fit in with the objectives of the Cambridgeshire Biodiversity Action Plan
What types of projects have the Council grant aided in the past?
- Orchard planting, New Malton Golf Club
- Water vole conservation, River Mel Restoration Group
- Veteran willow pollarding, Chittering
- River improvement, Friends of the River Shep
- Access improvements, RSPB Fowlmere
- Wildlife area, Oakington Primary School
Contact
Rob Mungovan
Ecology Officer [rob.mungovan@scambs.gov.uk (This link will open in a new window)]
Telephone: 01954 713402 (direct dial) / 03450 450 500 (contact centre)
Fax: 01954 713152
Conservation and Design Service
South Cambridgeshire Hall
Cambourne Business Park
Cambourne
Cambridgeshire
CB23 6EA
