An £800,000 grant from the UK Government is enabling school children in Denbighshire to get involved in a significant climate change project.
The funding from the Shared Prosperity Fund is being used to launch Phase Two of work to increase tree canopies across schools in the county, to support nature’s recovery and reduce local net carbon emissions.
Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies is delighted that schools in his constituency are to benefit from this funding and that children across Denbighshire will have the opportunity to take an active role in tackling climate change.
He said:
“This is an exciting project which will enable local school children to get involved in helping to tackle the challenge of climate change and it would not have been possible without funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund,
“The project was launched by Denbighshire County Council in Wales Climate Week (December 4th - 8th), which this year is examining the disproportionate impacts of climate change on different people, groups and places, and address how we can ensure that benefits associated with climate policies are distributed fairly across society.
“This latest project follows on from Phase One, which saw 17,000 trees planted at sites including schools across the county earlier this year, thanks to the support of volunteers and school children. Phase one work was funded as part of the Climate and Ecological Change programme, with 50% from the Welsh Government’s Woodland Investment Grant (TWIG) and 50% from Denbighshire County Council.
“Phase Two work by the Climate Change team, Biodiversity team and Denbighshire Countryside Services will see the planting of almost 10,000 more trees, including hedgerows and fruit trees, take place this winter at the following schools:
Ysgol Tir Morfa, Rhyl;
Ysgol Clawdd Offa, Prestatyn;
Ysgol Glan Clwyd, St Asaph;
Ysgol Penbarras and Rhos St School, Ruthin;
Ysgol Betws Gwerful Goch;
Ysgol Caer Drewyn, Corwen; and
Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy, Cynwyd.
“The areas developed will provide stronger habitat spaces for nature to benefit from as well as spaces for pupils to enjoy and learn from local wildlife.
“I look forward to seeing the new trees on my future visits to the schools taking part, and, in the meantime thank all children who are involved in the project for the fantastic work they are doing to help tackle climate change.”
The £2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund succeeds the old EU structural funds, is a central pillar of the UK government’s ambitious Levelling Up agenda and a significant component of its support for places across the UK. All areas of the UK receive an allocation from the Fund via a funding formula rather than a competition.
