The first year of the Norfolk Coast Sustainable Development Fund has brought real benefits to the people and environment of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The SDF panel are now looking for new innovative and exciting projects that “change the attitude and behaviour of individuals and communities in a positive way towards sustainable development”. Ideas are warmly welcomed from individuals, local community groups and other organisations.
Project grants can be worth anything from a few hundred to thousands of pounds. “We want people to feel free to be creative, and give it a go. If they’ve got an idea with sustainable benefits for the environment and people of the area then we would love to here from them. It’s all about small changes making a big difference” said fund administrator Maree Limpus.
Sustainable development is about promoting the health and well being of the environment, people and economy, now and into the future.
Eleven projects received funding in 2005/6 and it is hoped this year will see many more people being innovative and thinking up new ways to develop the aims of the AONB while encouraging co-operation and social inclusion.
The first project for the 2006/7 year has already been granted funding; to run a course on building a straw bale shed for storing Norfolk varieties of apples. This very exciting project by David Lincoln saw a wide range of people congregating in a field near Salthouse for 3 days of hard work, learning, fun and the sharing of ideas.
