Environmental projects receive financial boost

Grassroot community projects across Northumberland are benefitting from the County Council’s Environment and Climate Fund.   

17 groups and organisations are receiving funding of up to £5,000 from a pot of £50,000 to help them make sustainable changes; tackling climate change and improving their local environment.  

The projects span a wide range of activities, from forest school enhancement, nature corridors, cycling and active travel schemes to water quality monitoring, energy and insulation improvements as well as educational programmes and waste reduction – all with the aim of reducing emissions and enhancing the natural environment to support the council’s ambition of making Northumberland a net zero county by 2040.  

Cllr John Riddle, Cabinet Member for Environment, Rural and Farming at Northumberland County Council said: “It is fantastic to see the council once again supporting these innovative projects. 

“I’m incredibly proud of the work going on across the county in protecting and improving our environment. It is all these small changes that add up to bigger impacts. 

“I would like to thank all of the groups who bid into the funding and I’m excited to see the benefits these projects bring to local areas.” 

The Northumberland Climate and Environment Fund aligns with the council's updated Environment Policy Statement which underscores its commitment to environmental initiatives, supporting its key corporate priorities of achieving value for money, tackling inequalities and driving economic growth.  

Projects awarded include: 

• Alnmouth Village Golf Club - Reducing the carbon footprint of the 'Oldest 9 Hole Links in England' - Building a programme of work to move the golf club towards net zero operations over the next 10 years.  

• Amble Youth project - An allotment and a lot more – Removing a significant volume of waste so the allotment can be safely and effectively developed for community use.  

• Ashington Town Council - Environmentally friendly wheelchair accessible allotment plot – Creating a community gathering space with full wheelchair access and rehabilitating an abandoned plot area to establish raised beds for fruit and plants.

• Choppington Parish Council - Biodiversity uplift through wildlife corridor - Creating a network of wildflower corridors along selected park edges, and footpaths to increase biodiversity, support pollinators and enhance the character of the local landscape. 

• Climate Action Wansbeck - River Wansbeck Healthy Water - Fresh water watch community monitoring pilot (Morpeth and Ashington) - Enhancing safe and consistent community-led water monitoring using the FreshWater Watch methodology and data platform on the River Wansbeck with accessible sampling sites around Morpeth and Ashington.

• Cowpen Quay Community Association - Buffalo Community Centre energy efficiency upgrade - Phase 2 – Implementing Phase 2 of the energy improvement programme, replacing light fittings with LEDs and older radiators with thermostat-controlled energy efficient units. 

• CPRE Northumberland - 2026 Signpost restoration training course – Documenting the restoration of two traditional cast‑iron signposts in Stamfordham and Corbridge demonstrating environmentally responsible repair techniques and heritage skills. 

• Friends of Newbrough Primary School - Polytunnel - Purchasing and installing a durable polytunnel on the school grounds for year-round growing space that supports outdoor learning and environmental education.  

• Friends of Swansfield Park - Wild Swansfield: Growing climate stewards at Swansfield Park - Expanding and enhancing a school-based biodiversity and environmental education initiative centred around Forest School provision, habitat improvement, and community climate engagement.  

• Go Local Food - Go Local food storage - Installing a cold store to support in the collection and distribution of vegetable bags for local community members, reducing crop wastage and ensuring that produce remains long-lasting and fresh. 

• Grow Hexham (Hexham Town Council) - Fruitful Goings On - Replenishing the existing soft fruit beds within Hexham Community Garden bringing people into local growing spaces where they can learn about green gardening, growing food and the wider environment. 

• Hexham Farmer's Market - Tynedale Local Food - Initiating conversations through an online platform about the role of food in the climate and nature debate and helping to make locally produced food more easily available to residents living in towns and villages in West Northumberland. 

• Morpeth Repair Café - Expansion of repair activities to help recruit more volunteer repairers and provide the tools and materials needed to encourage more reuse and recycling.  

• Northumberland Wildlife Trust - College Valley Peat and Climate Education Programme - Delivering hands-on peatland climate education sessions between March and September 2026 to schools, youth groups and community organisations, including groups from disadvantaged areas who have limited access to outdoor learning.  

• Prudhoe Community Partnership - Prudhoe Pollinators project - Clearing a large flowerbed of brambles and dying shrubs to restore it with a wide range of plants and flowers to attract pollinators including ladybirds, bees, butterflies and hoverflies.  

• Solidarity Farm CIC - Active travel for climate and community - Purchasing an electric transport bicycle and mountain bikes to embed low-carbon travel into the daily operations and educational delivery of Solidarity Farm CIC.  

• Whittingham PTA and Friends - Bike shed - Storage for new bikes to support active and sustainable travel options to and from school.