As part of Veolia’s Community Environment Fund, community groups and clubs across Solihull have been awarded a share of £15,000.
This year’s round of the Community Environment Fund has been incredibly successful, with seventeen applications from Solihull’s community groups demonstrating their ambitions to enhance their local environment.
Nine applicants were awarded funding to take their projects forward. Representatives from each successful group or project were invited to join Veolia, the Mayor of Solihull and Solihull Council at a celebration event on Thursday 4 September to receive their awards and to share updates on their project journey.
Congratulations to:
Friends of Hope Coppice.
Their project will involve replacing a bench at Hope Coppice and creating a wildflower area to support pollinators.
Friends of Hillfield Park.
This initiative will see the introduction of inclusive play equipment at Hillfield Park, as well as the installation of bird and bat boxes throughout the park to support existing biodiversity and attract a wider variety of bird species.
Afghanistan & Central Asian Association.
Their community-based environmental project is designed to improve green spaces through wildflower planting and sustainable gardening workshops, while educating and engaging local residents.
Solihull Moors Foundation.
A weekly litter picking event will be organised by this group to help keep the local area clean and safe.
Ralph Road Allotment Association.
They will be continuing their work to enhance this shared space, creating a communal orchard and planting wildflowers to attract pollinators.
Solihull Tree Wardens.
The funding will be used to source equipment which will be used to replace Lea Wood’s path hedge.
Elmdon Park Support Group.
The park’s history will be honoured with a new display showcasing a timeline of events.
Dorridge & District Residents Association and Shirley Community Association.
They will continue litter picking efforts and rewild the natural environment by planting native wildflowers.
Shirley Community Association.
The funding will be used to build on their ongoing work with the Shirley Centre Garden, focusing on enhancing biodiversity at the location.
In addition to the £15,000 awarded, a further £5,000 of Community Environment funding has been directly allocated to support specific community projects in Solihull with litter picking and gardening equipment.
Sue Cummine, Solihull Senior Contract Manager, Veolia said: “The Community Environment Fund allows us to support the communities we serve beyond delivering essential recycling and waste collection and street cleaning services and we are so pleased to have funded nine fantastic projects this year. I look forward to seeing how these projects flourish and enhance Solihull’s environment, making it a cleaner and greener borough.”
Councillor Annette Mackenzie, Mayor of Solihull, said:
“I was delighted to meet the people behind the nine fantastic projects that have been awarded funding, and be invited to celebrate their success. I wish all of the projects the best of luck in their progress, and thank them and Veolia, for their continued effort to better our community and protect our wonderful green spaces in Solihull.”
If you would like to apply to The Community Environment Fund, keep a lookout on the Veolia website for further funding rounds: www.solihull.veolia.co.uk/community/funding