Cash for green groups; pounds 20k awarded to local projects

Byline: EMMA DAVISON

GREEN groups across West Yorkshire are celebrating after being given a cash boost. Five charity and community groups in the region - including two operating in the Huddersfield area - are sharing a slice of over pounds 20,000 worth of grants.

The green grants have been awarded by the region's gas pipeline company, Northern Gas Networks.

The Denby Dale Centre, based at Springfield Mill in Denby Dale, works with older and disabled people living in surrounding rural areas.

It was awarded pounds 5,000 to create a garden with raised beds, walkways and a large greenhouse.

Colne Valley Tree Society was handed a pounds 2,000 grant.

The group was established in 1964 and since then has planted more than 300,000 trees at sites across the Colne Valley.

Heavy rainfall and exposed land makes farming in the area difficult, and the money will help the group continue its work helping farmers create shelter by planting trees.

Other groups to benefit in West Yorkshire were Bradford's Prism Youth Project, which was given pounds 5,000 for a nature trail, treasure trail and signage at the city farm.

Working in Saltaire, the Hirst Wood Generation Group has been awarded pounds 1,600 to help it reclaim derelict areas and transform them into well-maintained public spaces.

The Wildlife Habitat Protection Fund's grant of pounds 4,990 will help create a nature trail on the outskirts of Church Fenton, Doncaster.

The scheme saw a total of pounds 60,000 gifted to grass-roots environmental projects across Yorkshire, the North East and northern Cumbria. Now in its fourth year, the initiative attracted 90 entries with the award fund being shared by 17 stand-out entrants.

John O'Grady, Northern Gas Networks' communications director, said: "We set up the Northern Green Networks' grant scheme as a way of supporting these groups that are dedicated to improving their local communities. They are the ones that make things happen.

"It's our way of recognising the effort and dedication that they make and we hope it will enable them to go that extra mile."

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HARD AT WORK: Colne Valley Tree Society volunteers planting shrubs at Meltham