The Council recognises the importance of conserving and enhancing the natural and historic environment and promoting local access and enjoyment by all. It also recognises the valuable contribution that landowners, parish and town Council, voluntary organisations and local communities make in meeting these aims.
To assist local people to improve their local environment the Council provides a number of grants: these are listed below.
South Gloucestershire Environment Grant
The Environment Grant is available to friends groups / conservation groups, local interest groups, youth groups, voluntary and community associations and parish and town councils. Applications are assessed against the following criteria developed from priorities in the Council Plan:
• Conservation or enhancement of our open spaces and countryside
• Protection and enhancement of biodiversity
• Promotion of low carbon, sustainable and healthy lifestyles
• Promotion or improvement of access to our countryside and open spaces
• Increased community involvement in protecting and appreciating the natural and cultural environment
• Appreciation of the natural environment through celebratory events, learning projects, interpretation and the arts.
The Environment Grant provides up to 80% of total project costs where there is demonstrated community involvement and environmental benefit. Applicants are required to contribute 20% of total project costs, which can be made up of cash, materials in kind or the value of volunteer labour.
There is no maximum grant set; however, it is unusual for the Council to award more than £2500 for an Environment Grant unless the project is exceptional.
Biodiversity and Landscape Grant
This grant has a total budget of £6,000 and its purpose is to conserve and enhance the landscape character of South Gloucestershire and to conserve and enhance biodiversity. The grant supports the planting of trees and shrubs, pollarding, hedge laying, coppicing and gapping up, stone walling and pond restoration.
Grant aid is available up to 50% of costs to a maximum of £500. The grant supports schemes submitted by private landowners and town and parish councils.
Grants for Works to Protected Trees
This grant has a total budget of £1000 and is administered by the Council’s Tree Officers. The purpose of the grant is to promote good management of protected trees (tree with a TPO or within a Conservation Area) and it enables residents of south Gloucestershire to apply for grant aid for the management of protected trees within their property. Applicants apply for grant aid at the same time as submitting an application to carry out works to a protected tree. The maximum grant aid is £75.00 per tree and £500 per site.
How to apply for a grant
On the right hand side of this page is the 'Read More' section. Download the appropriate guidance notes and application form from the PDFs listed. Please contact us if you require further assistance.
Further information
For information on the Biodiversity and Landscape Grant please telephone Richard Aston / Chris Giles on 01454 863725.
For information on the South Gloucestershire Environment Grant please telephone John Morris on 01454 863581.
For information on the Work on Protected Trees Grant please contact either Alistair Rankine on 01454 868426 / Lea Bending on 01454 864201 / Chris Wright on 01454 868427.