4.6 BFER Grant Fund

Project Update

The first BFER grant provided £2,500 towards a series of new amphibian pools at The BTO reserve, Thetford. This will diversify the fenland there and the flood area generally in an area that has been steadily drying over the years. We are eager to see how the pools develop and who or what will take up residence.”

Nunnery Lakes Reserve

The new dragonfly/amphibian pools have been installed on the island opposite the public path to the hides. The idea is to diversify the fenland there and the flood area generally.  The work should help maintain wetness in an area that has been steadily drying over the years.  We are eager to see how the pools develop and who or what will take up residence.

Image credit: British Trust for Ornithology

Bury Trout Club

The second BFER grant was awarded £2,500 to the Bury Trout Club. You can read our blog post about it here: Bury St Edmunds Trout Club Grant Awarded

To read about this projects latest update: CLICK HERE

Honington and Sapiston Parish Council

The third BFER grant was awarded £750 towards Honington and Sapiston Parish Council for their interpretation boards.

The fourth BFER grant was awarded £2,500 to The Rivers Trust for their Preventing Plastic Pollution project.

Nick Dickson from the Brecks Fen Edge & Rivers Landscape Partnership presents cheque to Clare Whitelegg from The Rivers Trust.

Preventing Plastic Pollution is an EU funded project for the Channel region. 18 partner organisations in England and France are working together to measure and tackle plastic pollution in 7 river catchments, including the Great Ouse. Preventing Plastic Pollution (PPP) will develop scientific understanding of plastic pollution in the freshwater and marine environment and reduce plastic entering river catchments. From 2020-2023 PPP activities include data collection on plastic pollution and methods to engage local businesses, schools and communities with behaviour change around plastic use and disposal.

To read more about The Rivers Trust visit their website: https://www.theriverstrust.org/

Aims/Objectives

To ensure flexible delivery and outputs not identified during scheme development by providing funding for small community led projects

To further the aims and objectives of the BFER LP by delivering projects that benefit heritage, people, or communities

To build funding application experience and confidence in community groups leading to future applications from other sources

Summary

This project will provide opportunities for communities and local organisation to apply for funding to enhance, restore or celebrate heritage in the project area, supporting heritage, building capacity and sustainability.

The BFER 3rd Party Grant Fund will offer grants of between £500 and £2,500 for projects that will conserve, enhance, celebrate and increase understanding of the historic landscape of the scheme area.

It will enable small projects to gain funding, developing confidence and expertise in local heritage and community organisations, and enable BFER outputs to have some degree of flexibility that ensures any new opportunities for high quality outputs and outcomes can be supported during the 5-year delivery period

Project criteria will include a 25% match funding requirement to ensure value and commitment from the applicants.

If you’d like to discuss your project idea with a member of the team, just need more information or to be added to our mailing list email: bfer.admin@suffolk.gov.uk

Resources

See below relevant documents for the 3rd Party Grant Fund

BFER grant guidelines

BFER grant application form