Latest SDF grants announced
The Exmoor National Park Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund panel met recently and grants that will be of benefit to Exmoor and its community have been awarded to the following projects:
Exmoor & Quantocks Food Links
This is a continuation of a successful project that aims to promote and develop the sustainable local food economy of the Exmoor and Quantock area through skills development, market information and co-operation; expanding markets for local food and drink providers; and increasing awareness of local food and drink. One of the initiatives of the organisation has been the Exmoor Food Festival which is a huge success and growing every year. The festival brings in hundreds of extra visitors to Exmoor during October, at a time of year when visitor numbers are usually declining.
Jane Birch, Exmoor and Quantock project officer said: “We are really pleased to have been awarded this grant. In the area there are many small businesses producing fantastic food and using it in their menus and it is great to be able to work with them to create a really strong vibrant local food economy building on the work of the last three years.”
Outdoor Professional Training Instructors Course (OPTIC)
In the run-up to the Outdoor Professional Training Instructors Course project a 2½ year programme will support training for up to 120 local young adults in appropriate outdoor activities with an emphasis on identifying the needs of under represented groups.
This project is a partnership between Active Exmoor, Minehead College and Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership.
Le Trec
Exmoor Trec 2006, a European Senior and Young Rider Championships will take place on Exmoor on 15-17 September 2006. This two day event is a 45 km orienteering course across Exmoor National Park on the first day and on the second, competitors will negotiate an enclosed course made up of the type of obstacles they could meet during a trail ride – fallen trees, water-crossings, ditches, hedges and other such 'hazards'.
The local organising committee sees the event firstly as an opportunity to promote equestrian tourism in the region by introducing those not familiar to the region to the pleasures of riding on Exmoor, under circumstances that can take account of sensitive areas by controlling the speed the area is crossed and ensuring that damage is not done to the environment. Further details on equestrian tourism can be obtained by visiting: www.equinetourism.co.uk
Mrs Margaret Barron, who heads the local group organising the championships on behalf of the British Horse Society, said: “This is a ground breaking project which will have far reaching effects on Exmoor and Exmoor businesses. The Sustainable Development Fund grant is an indication that others share our confidence and it will ensure that visiting competitors and their supporters see the area for the gem it is.”
The event will also be an opportunity to celebrate and promote local goods, exmoor culture and give ideas of how people can contribute to the future sustainability of the area.
And finally in a continuing demonstration of the practical benefits of the Sustainable Development Fund the Exmoor Farm Plastic Collections will build on the success of the 2005/2006 collections when a total of 89 tonnes of plastic where collected from 99 farms.
This collection service seeks to help prevent plastic being buried, burned or littering the Exmoor landscape with more collections planned for Exmoor during May 2006.
Dr Nigel Stone, National Park Officer said: “The Sustainable Development Fund continues to provide funding for a range of projects to benefit Exmoor that might otherwise not get funding and we are delighted that South West Regional Development Agency has agreed to provide additional funding alongside that provided by Defra.”