New jobs as environment charity's woodland projects in South Tyneside win £120,000 funding

Groundwork, which works to help the local environment, will receive £121,291 for its Natural Neighbourhoods scheme from the government’s £80 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund. The charity’s operations across the UK will receive a total of £2.2million.

The South Tyneside money will be used to support work on four woodland areas: Monkton Community Woodland, Tilesheds, the Green Man Plantation and West Boldon Lodge.

The charity’s projects will create jobs for young people, help unemployed people develop new skills, assist nature recovery and combat climate change. The projects protect and enhance parks and green spaces in communities where Covid has widened health inequalities.

Trees will be planted and forests restored, alongside wider conservation work. The projects will also support environmental education and connect people with green spaces.

The projects will be delivered in partnership with South Tyneside Council, National Grid and the Land Trust.

Rebecca Maw, Groundwork’s operations manager, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded this grant, which will allow us to improve local woodland areas for wildlife and the community.

“Since Covid began we have seen how important local nature sites are for our communities’ mental and physical wellbeing.

“Thanks to the Green Recovery Challenge Fund we will improve four local areas with a combined coverage of 30 hectares, create 15 jobs and work with 80 volunteers.”

The roles are currently open for applications on the Groundwork website.

Ian Kendall, estates manager for the Land Trust said: “Monkton Community Woodland has become an ever more important asset for the local community over the last year. We’re looking forward to working with Groundwork to make it an even richer place for both people and wildlife.

“I’m excited to see this work progress and watch as the wildlife responds to the careful habitat management Groundwork has planned.”

The Green Recovery Challenge Fund is a key part of a 10-point government plan to kick-start nature recovery and tackle climate change. The fund is being delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.

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