What is the Conservation grant scheme Howardian Hills?
The Conservation grant scheme Howardian Hills is a small grant pot to support practical projects that help to conserve, enhance and raise awareness of the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Funding is available to assist with the on-going management of sites as well as one-off capital schemes. Assistance will normally be in the range of 30-75% of approved costs, but could be up to 100% in certain circumstances. Work may be assisted via either grant aid or direct works organised and funded by the AONB Unit itself.
Funding is available under three separate themes:
- AONB Enhancement – Natural Environment
- AONB Enhancement – Historic Environment
- AONB Enhancement – Sustainable Development & the Rural Economy (incorporates the former Sustainable Development Fund (SDF)).
The main work of the Joint Advisory Committee consists of:
AONB Management Plan – reviewing the 5-yearly plan, in consultation with interested organisations and local people. The Plan provides a strategic framework for all the initiatives carried out by the JAC organisations and the AONB Unit. The current and previous Management Plans can be found in the Library section of the website, together with the Annual Action Programmes.
Land management advice – giving advice to farmers and landowners on the conservation management of farmland and woods. This includes advice on practical management options, as well as the grants available and help with applying for them.
Landscape – providing grant aid to land managers for planting new hedges, restoring gappy hedges, repairing drystone walls, creating new ponds, planting small copses and individual hedgerow trees, etc.
Wildlife and biodiversity – providing advice and grant aid to both conserve and restore important and scarce habitats such as fens, unimproved grassland, ponds and Ancient Woodlands.
Historic environment – providing advice and grant aid to conserve or repair historic features, e.g. old lime kilns, round barrows (tumuli), mileposts, Park walls, mills, roadsign fingerposts, Listed Buildings At Risk , etc.
Communities – carrying out environmental improvement works and supporting local village shops and services.
Recreation – preparing self-guided route leaflets to allow visitors to explore the AONB and support the local economy.
Planning and Development – commenting on a wide range of Strategies that could affect the AONB. Providing comments on the potential impact of planning applications and other works carried out by Utilities or Local Authorities.
