A £100,000 grant fund has been launched by Severn Trent to improve and enhance biodiversity.

The Boost for Biodiversity Fund offers grants to farmers, landowners, community groups and NGOs who work within the Severn Trent region. Applications will be scored to ensure funding goes to projects that demonstrate a clear biodiversity improvement, provide good value for money and where there is demonstration of partnership working. Not all applications will be successful.

Applications will close at 5pm on Friday, May 31 and successful applicants will get the opportunity to pitch their project to a judging panel, who will be able to allocate further funding after each presentation.

All work must comply with relevant environmental and health and safety legislation and have the appropriate planning permissions.  Projects should be completed by March 31, 2021.

“Application forms must be accompanied by a map of the location and photographs if available along with a recent bank statement and a copy of your organisation’s constitution if relevant,” said Kathryn Williams, a chartered surveyor with Davis Meade Property Consultants.

“If applicants have any queries in relation to their application please speak to us or contact the Severn Trent Catchment Partnership Coordinator (catchment.team@severntrent.co.uk).

“Projects will be scored according to various factors including the size of biodiversity improvement, the number of wider project benefits, value for money, if there is match funding available and the number of partners involved,” she added.

Full details of the scoring criteria is available on the Severn Trent website https://www.stwater.co.uk/content/dam/stw/about_us/documents/bfb-terms-and-conditions-2019.pdf