£600k for environmental projects across Warwickshire
The cash is being handed out as part of Warwickshire County Council's plan to cut carbon emissions
More than £625,000 worth of funding will go to 69 projects across Warwickshire aimed at tackling climate change and improving he environment,
The money comes from a £1m Warwickshire County Council fund set up after the local authority declared a 'climate emergency' in 2019.
A range of schemes have been picked out for funding, including rewilding projects to restore areas of lost forest and installing renewable energy like solar panels at community venues.
One of the successful projects is a new repair café at Kenilworth.
It joins cafes in Leamington, Rugby, Southam and Alcester in give the chance for people to get their broken items repaired while learning valuable skills.
Cash will also go transport schemes which promote walking and cycling in the county.
Cllr Heather Timms, from the county council, said:
“The Warwickshire Green Shoots Fund is an important step forward in our response to the Climate Change Emergency that the Council declared in 2019.
"The £1million fund that we have made available is one of the largest offered by any local authority and the fact that we have already been able to allocate over £600K in funding to projects across Warwickshire is a shining example of how committed our communities are to playing their role in facing the climate change emergency through direct strategic action.
“Climate change affects us all and that effect will be felt more profoundly across the next decade unless we take decisive and collective action to reduce our carbon emissions, help our environment adapt to the changes we know will happen, and all live more sustainable lives.
"It is this that was at the heart of our Green Shoots Fund and also our commitment to joining the UK 100 Pledge on carbon reduction, which was made in June of this year.
“There is already a lot of fantastic work going on across Warwickshire to help reduce carbon footprints and minimise the effects that we all have on our fast-changing climate."
The Warwickshire County Council has released a full list of the projects to win funding on its website.