Cumbria Biodiversity Partnership – Species On The Edge Helped By Biodiversity Funding.
Despite the harsh winter and even harsher economic climate this New Year has started with good news for biodiversity. Cumbria Biodiversity Partnership has successfully raised over £2,500 for projects that conserve some of Cumbria’s most important habitats and species.
A grant courtesy of the HSBC Environment Fund administered by Cumbria Community Foundation will enable the Armathwaite Tree Sparrow Project to continue for another year. The project is run by enthusiastic local volunteers who feed, monitor and ring tree sparrows through the winter months. This grant will help by purchasing winter-feed for the sparrows and also contribute towards warm waterproof clothing and travel expenses for volunteers.
Further funding was obtained by the Partnership from the Tree Council’s Hedge Fund. This money will be used to purchase young trees and fencing materials for work that when complete will create nearly 700 metres of new species rich hedge near Crook in South Cumbria. The work will be carried out by volunteers and forms part of the ongoing Cumbria Hedgerow Project that has been busy surveying the counties’ hedgerows and last year in conjunction with United Utilities restored over 600 metres of hedgerow near Bampton Grange.
Local Biodiversity Manager Graham Jackson-Pitt said, “ The Partnership is delighted to receive this funding which will enable us to continue supporting these initiatives that are delivered by local volunteers passionate about Cumbria’s biodiversity.”
Both tree sparrows and hedgerows are now listed in the UK and Cumbria Biodiversity Action Plans and hence are a priority for conservation both nationally and locally.