Enhancement Projects
Mend the Gap has £3,000,000 for Enhancement Projects within the programme area.
Our Enhancement Projects
We have now committed over £200,000 to enhancement projects in the programme area.
These include supporting:
- Wetland and habitat improvements
- Tourism business support and networking opportunities
- Accessibility improvements
- Community capacity and resilience building
Enhancement projects and schemes will compensate for the unmitigated visual harm done to the AONBs by the electrification of the Great Western mainline.
Is Mend the Gap a grant scheme?
Mend the Gap runs in three strands:
- We want to talk to landowners and communities about large landscape enhancement projects
- We have a small grants scheme of up to £15,000
- We have £750,000 ear marked for Mitigation tree and hedge planting and need to talk specifically to those landowners impacted by the visual impact of the railway gantries.
We want to hear from anyone who is interested in talking to us about these strands of work please email the programme team on mendthegap@chilternsaonb.org
What will we fund?
The types of projects that may be supported through the scheme include those that bring about benefits for:
- Landscape
- Nature and biodiversity
- Access, engagement and understanding
- Heritage
- Sustainable tourism & the local economy
See below for more details about these areas of interest and the criteria for Enhancement Projects.
In addition, projects should contribute towards the Mend the Gap vision:
“The outstanding landscape that links the Chilterns and the North Wessex Downs will be enhanced and enriched for wildlife, residents and visitors, helping to heal and soften the scars left by electrification of the Great Western main line.”
and should be aligned with one or both of the statutory purposes of the AONBs:
- To conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the AONBs.
- To increase the understanding and enjoyment by the public of the special qualities of the AONBs
Mend the Gap is interested in hearing from organisations and individuals who share some of the programme’s objectives, who may already be making a difference within the programme area and/or the AONBs.
Does your project:
• Have beneficiaries that use or live in the programme area,
• Support nature restoration in the programme area or Thames River catchment,
• Have the permissions in place or not need permissions or licenses to progress.
If so, please email the programme team on mendthegap@chilternsaonb.org
Projects we have supported
So far, Mend the Gap has supported a variety of projects, from the creation of an Otter Holt, to helping local businesses improve their visitor experiences as well as the start up of a new environmental group. Find out more about the type of enhancement projects we have supported here.