Over the last year staff from Nidderdale AONB have been developing an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for funding to support a large scale scheme in Upper Nidderdale.  An application for up to £1.5 million to support heritage projects is in its initial stages and we would like your thoughts and ideas about what should be included.

The application will be made to HLF's Landscape Partnership Scheme, which is funding normally delivered by a partnerships made up of regional, national and local organisations with an interest in the area, community groups and members of the community.  The programme is based round a portfolio of smaller projects, which together provide long-term social, economic and environmental benefits for rural area.

To apply for a grant, we have had to identify an area of countryside that has a distinctive landscape character and is recognised and valued by local people.  The area of countryside should be no smaller than 20 km² and no larger than 200 km².  Upper Nidderdale has been identified for a number of reasons.  It is an area which is very distinctive and it has an extraordinary wealth of heritage assets within one landscape area, from Victorian reservoirs and monastic remains to traditional farm buildings and historic routeways.  The natural heritage is of international importance with diverse and species rich habitats that support nationally important populations of birds such as merlin, golden plover and redshank. 

Successful schemes must deliver evenly across HLF's four programme outcomes:

Community Consultation

A number of community consultation events have been held to gather people's ideas and thoughts. On the 12th December 2011 25 people attended a meeting representing conservation organisations, landowners and interest groups.  Workshops focussing on moorland, rivers and reservoirs, ecology and woodland gathered people's ideas for what they feel priorities should be an application for funding.

 

On the 16th January 2012 a meeting was attended by 15 people from heritage groups, volunteer groups, local art organisations and businesses in Upper Nidderdale. Participants gained an overview of how the scheme operates, discussed the application to date and collaborated in creating a vision for the partnership area.

 

1. What does Upper Nidderdale mean to you?
2. Developing words for a vision
3. All the words became a cloud	4. What area should we focus on?

 

The first-round is competitive and assessed in one UK wide batch.  The deadline for first-round applications is 28th February each year and decisions are made in July in a single batch by the HLF Board of Trustees.  If we receive a first-round pass, we will need to develop the scheme further, which is likely to take 12  to 18 months. 

 

We are keen to hear your thoughts and ideas about what should be included in the first stage application so if you have any suggestions please contact Sarah Kettlewell, AONB Development Officer, on 01423 712950 or sarah.kettlewell@harrogate.gov.uk