UK Woodlands Receive Government Grants
8/24/99
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Title: UK Woodlands Receive Government Grants
Source: Environment News Service
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: August 24, 1999
LONDON, UK, August 24, 1999 (ENS) - Forty-nine threatened woodlands
across Britain are to share total grant funding of 230,000 pounds,
the Forestry Commission has announced. They won the grants in the
third and final round of the Forestry Commission's Challenge Fund,
which aims to save woodlands at risk.
The total amount given out by the fund now stands at more than 1.2
million pounds. The money has gone to heal 200 woodlands covering
more than 2,700 acres.
Announcing the grants last week, forestry minister Elliot Morley said
managing woodlands was crucial for their continued survival for
future generations.
"They need to be cared for by people with specialist knowledge,
expertise and understanding," he added. If they are neglected they
are not able to provide the social, environmental and economic
benefits that we know they can. Every year England's woodlands offer
millions of people a safe haven and a breath of fresh air. They have
long been a vital component of tourism and recreation," the minister
said.
"They can transform our landscape and are vital for wildlife, nature
conservation and biodiversity," said Morley.
The funding will go for activities such as thinning and selective
felling and the construction of protective fencing.
It will also provide assistance with deer management and grey
squirrel control and the removal of invasive species, such as
rhododendron.