Boost for wildlife project (From Gazette Series)

Boost for wildlife project

A WILDLIFE protection scheme in Cam is set to flourish after receiving grants totalling £30,000.

Cam Wildlife Project will use the money to ensure that the village's rich natural heritage is better understood, protected and enjoyed.

The money has come from the Local Heritage Initiative (LHI) and Nationwide Building Society and will be used to establish a natural heritage warden scheme, to create a biodiversity action plan and to restore and document important local features.

Cam Wildlife Project director Caroline Aistrop said: ""We are thrilled to have been awarded an LHI grant because it will enable us to encourage more people to become actively involved in discovering and protecting Cam's wonderful wildlife heritage."

A public meeting to give people the chance to get involved with the project will take place at St Bartholomew's Church Hall on Tuesday, May 17 (7.30pm).

Activities carried out by the project include restoring stone stiles, publishing a stone stile walk around the parish and replacing various stiles in the parish with kissing gates to improve access for everyone.

The project is the latest community group to benefit from the LHI scheme, which enables people to treasure the aspect of local life that makes different areas special.

Stephanie Kruse, LHI advisor for the South West, said: "We hope the community's success in winning an award encourages others to come up with heritage schemes which are equally important to them.

"Some amazing work is already underway and there is still plenty of scope for other communities to suggest projects celebrating the spirit and distinctive character of the places where they live."

Interested groups can find out more by calling the LHI information line on 0870 9000401 for details and an application form or by logging on to www.lhi.org.uk.

To find out more about Cam Wildlife Project contact Caroline Aistrop or Nadine Smykatz-Kloss on 01453 753358 or email either caistrop@stroudvalleysproject.org or nadine@stroudvalleysproject.org.