The Mendip Hills Fund announces its awards for 2022

The Mendip Hills Fund was able to make grants to fourteen projects this year, with a total of £12,500 awarded to projects that help the environment and community across the Mendip Hills.

Grants were awarded to tree planting projects, creating new areas for wildlife, a heritage trail in Axbridge, helping Burrington Parish Council maintain the public toilets, the information centre in Cheddar Gorge that’s run by the community, improving Litton Village Hall, helping vulnerable people through access to the area and a community archaeology projects that bring people together and more.

All the successful projects will be contacted soon by the Somerset Community Foundation with their official confirmation.

Due to a fall in income-related to the pandemic the fund made no awards for the previous 18 months. The Mendip Hills Fund is a partnership between Somerset Community Foundation and Mendip Hills AONB Partnership providing grants of up to £2000. Applications can be made between September and November.

Jim Hardcastle, manager of the Mendip Hills AONB said, ‘We’ve had an amazing year raising money for the fund, seeing it bounce back after a difficult time due to the pandemic. Visitors and local businesses are delighted to contribute when they see the success of the Mendip Hills Fund on the ground. The panel who make the decisions were thrilled to see the number of children and local people who will benefit from grants to get out and about in the area.’

Kirsty Campbell, Programmes Manager at Somerset Community Foundation, said: “Thanks to all the hard work of the AONB Unit, it’s fantastic that the Mendip Hills Fund is able to support such great projects and organisations, helping communities and the environment which so often benefit each other.”                               
Funds are raised from businesses and visitors who wish to give something back to this very special area, helping to conserve and enhance the special qualities of the Mendip Hills, and benefit local communities.