THE BARROW and Furness constituency has been awarded three projects out of the 90 projects across England that will receive funding through the second round of the Government’s £80 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund.

The funding will help to accelerate the implementation of nature-based projects across England, from new ‘insect pathways’ in our countryside and towns, planting projects in deprived urban areas, and restoring moorlands, wetlands, peatlands, and forests.

The Fund builds on the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan to kick-start nature recovery and tackle climate change, helping the nation build back greener from the pandemic.

The three projects that will receive £569,400 of funding will help to create and retain green jobs and support new nature schemes in Barrow in Furness.

United Bank of Carbon - Restoring Hardknott Forest has been awarded £140,900, Cumbria Wildlife Trust - Blue Recovery in the Irish Sea has been awarded £179,900, and Cumbria Development Education Centre - Paths to Learning: Active Community Engagement has been awarded £248,600.

Barrow and Furness MP Simon Fell said: “Preserving and restoring our precious natural environment is absolutely essential if we want it to be there and enjoyed by our children and grandchildren.

“The £569,400 awarded to these three projects in Barrow and Furness will help restore and safeguard our local natural landscape – creating and supporting green jobs in our community and helping secure a green recovery.

“At the last election I promised to work with the Government to protect our natural environment, and this funding will help to deliver on that promise as we build back greener from the pandemic”.

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said: “The diverse and ambitious projects being awarded funding today will help environmental organisations employ more people to work on tree-planting, nature restoration and crucially, help more of the public to access and enjoy the outdoors.

“Through our £80 million Fund, we are on track to support over 2,500 jobs, plant almost a million trees and increase nature recovery at a huge scale across the country, which will help us deliver against our 25 Year Environment Plan.”