Lancaster Beekeepers - Honey Bee Conservation

This project aims to create a honey bee apiary in Yealand Conyers to

• provide enhanced practical training to new and existing beekeepers
• train beekeepers to become trainers in beekeeping
• breed and supply stocks of bees of gentle temperament, well suited to local conditions
• provide non-beekeepers with an insight into beekeeping.

Phase 1 involved practical works to make the site accessible. Phase 2 saw the apiary equipped with full hives, breeding hives, bees and maintenance equipment. The latest grant was awarded to enable the installation of solar panels on the building used for training sessions.

Grant awarded: £600

Butterfly Conservation - Conservation of the High Brown Fritillary

Butterfly Conservation is undertaking a 4-year project to conserve Britain’s rarest butterfly, the High Brown Fritillary, which has its UK stronghold in the Morecambe Bay area, although other key species, such as Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Northern Brown Argus will also benefit. The main aim of the project is to undertake appropriate management of sites, nine of which lie within the AONB. In addition to the practical work, training workshops on grassland management, butterfly identification and monitoring have been held and a leaflet produced about the project for distribution to the public.

Grant awarded: £3,000

Lancashire Wildlife Trust - Flora of N Lancashire

Local botanist Eric Greenwood, with the help of an SDF grant, has published a book describing the distribution and occurrence of all flowering plants and ferns in N Lancashire that have ever been recorded. The character of the region's plants, changes in their distribution and their abundance are discussed in the light of a rapidly changing environment. Flora will be an invaluable reference book and through its description of our heritage will increase awareness and enjoyment of the area.

Grant awarded: £1,000

Hincaster Trailway - wheelchair track

The Hincaster Trailway Group was formed in 2008 with the aim of developing the disused Hincaster Branch Railway Line into a multi-user path for shared use by people of all abilities on foot, cycle and horseback. This latest phase has, via the construction of a wheelchair track along 400m of the route, improved access for people with limited mobility, allowing them to enjoy exercise in a rural setting.

Grant awarded: £2,500

The Grisedale Tramper

Members of the Grant Panel were pleased to be able to support another project which will see improved facilities for people with limited mobility. An all terrain electric buggy (Tramper), based at Grisedale Farm Leighton, has been purchased and will be available for hire for use on designated routes within the AONB. Training will also be provided if required.

Grant awarded: £5,348

Orchard Barn Heritage Fruit

Peter Goulder and Sheila Porter both actively support the AONB in promoting the conservation and restoration of orchards and since 2005 have hosted the AONB's Apple Day in their 250 year old Westmorland orchard in Arnside. They have spent 16 years restoring and managing the orchard which now supports over 66 heritage varieties of apples together with numerous old pear, plum, gage and damson trees. The grant was awarded to help them develop their own fruit products for sale within the local area and to contribute towards a wider AONB Orchard Project.

Grant awarded: £3,000  

Silverdale Cycle Hire

This new cycle hire facility in Silverdale provides a welcome facility for both residents and visitors to the AONB. Cycling and walking are by far the best ways to experience the area's sights and sounds and people will now have the opportunity to leave the car behind and make the area a safer and more pleasant place to be. A cycle repair service, repair workshops and guided rides are also on offer.

Grant awarded: £3,500

RSPB - A new learning platform for Leighton Moss  

A new learning platform is about better connecting people with nature so that they see more, learn more and do more to protect it. This is a 4 year project which will see RSPB carry out a series of improvements to the visitor infrastructure and activities at Silverdale, including new paths and viewing structures, better interpretation, community engagement projects and a new Gateway garden to include a pond, sensory plants and a bird feeding area.

Grant awarded: £5,000

Global Link - Understanding how to reduce our carbon footprint

This project is an excellent educational initiative which will see our local schoolchildren learning about sustainable living and reducing our carbon footprint. Global Link will bring their mobile multi-media exhibition about climate change to primary schools in the area and will work with the children on waste reduction; energy saving and renewable energies; transport and food miles; and the importance of buying local produce. 

Grant awarded: £2,555

Silverdale & Storth Primary Schools - Energy Audit and Renewable Technologies Feasibility Studies

Both schools have commissioned reports, the results of which will enable improvements in running costs and reduce carbon emissions. Supporting projects which contribute to reductions in carbon emissions and increase awareness among the local community of the threats and challenges associated with the impacts of climate change is high on the AONB's list of priorities and we are keen to see smale-scale renewable energy initiatives which are compatible with the AONB designation. These reports will help identify opportunities.

Grants awarded: £900 to each school

Arnside and District Natural History Society - Micro-mammal monitoring

The ADNHS has undertaken to organise micro-mammal monitoring in cooperation with the UK Mammal Society and the grant awarded has enabled them to buy the specialist equipment needed. The AONB Management Plan highlights the loss, fragmentation and deterioration of wildlife habitats and the decline in species diversity as an issue and this project will provide valuable data which in turn will inform future habitat management of sites in the AONB.

Grant awarded £900

Bittern Countryside Community Interest Company - Low Carbon Initiative

This project aims to see the installation of solar photo-voltaic panels on one of the AONB's community buildings, with the income generated being used to roll out the programme to other such buildings in the area in the future. The CIC has already been successful in working with Storth Primary School with panels being installed over February half term. As well as contributing to a reduction in our carbon footprint and acting as an exemplar for other community buildings, the project will also provide many educational opportunities.

Grant awarded: £7,500