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Press Releases
BIG and the Â鶹ԼÅÄ: turning the UK a brighter shade of green
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The first wave of Lottery funding from the Breathing Places grants programme is
being rolled out today by the Big Lottery Fund (BIG).
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For the green-fingered the money cannot come soon enough as thousands of people up and down
the country, who have been inspired by the Â鶹ԼÅÄ-led Breathing Places campaign,
gear up to cash in and create their own wildlife friendly green havens.
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In June 2006 BIG announced £1m for the first phase of its
Breathing Places grants programme.
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Today 63 local community groups, from Belfast
to York, have been awarded funding of up to £10,000 to transform and develop
Breathing Places: these are green spaces or areas that are being created into an
oasis for people and wildlife.
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Today also sees the launch of the second phase of the Lottery-funded Breathing
Places grant scheme - at the start of the second week of Â鶹ԼÅÄ TWO's live
Autumnwatch with Bill Oddie and Kate Humble.
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A further £4m will be made available for projects that make a lasting improvement to
the local environment by creating new Breathing Places, as well as supporting the
development of existing ones.
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In this phase a much wider range of organisations
can access funding including schools, local health bodies, parish councils and
voluntary and community groups.
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Chair of the Big Lottery Fund, Sir Clive Booth, said: "One of the key objectives of
Big Lottery Fund is that its grants should make a difference and add real value
to the quality of people's lives in communities up and down the country: the
Breathing Places grants awarded today are an excellent example of this.
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"I'm also very excited about today's launch of the second phase of funding which
will allow even more people to create and care for green places wherever they
live; everywhere from neighbourhood parks, school grounds and workplaces to local
nature reserves."
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Bill Oddie said: "From little acorns mighty oaks will grow... and this new money is
fantastic news.
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"It's great for people right across the UK who want their very own
Breathing Places in their very own local patch, and now know they'll have access
to money to keep them going.
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"It takes years for oaks to develop - bit like me
really! - and in my experience the best projects are the ones that have the time
and money to just get better and better."
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Liz Cleaver, Controller of Â鶹ԼÅÄ Learning and Interactive, said: "The Breathing
Places campaign is now firmly established - and these new grants will give
schools, community groups and many more people the chance to be part of this
ambitious project.
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"With its leading environmental partners, Breathing Places
gives everyone the support they need to create local havens for both people and
wildlife."
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One of the 63 projects to be awarded a grant today is Wakefield Hospice who will
use a £9,000 award for its Woodland Walk and Gardens project.
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Wakefield
Hospice will create a volunteer team to develop and maintain the woodland walk
and the gardens in the grounds of the hospice.
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The team will also install nesting
boxes, create small mammal breeding places - and explore options for creating a
sensory garden.
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Barrie Cash, a fund-raiser for the hospice, said: "Wakefield Hospice is delighted to have been awarded a Breathing Places grant to
help improve the woodland area and grounds of the hospice. This will enrich the
experience of the hospice for patients, carers and friends alike."
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The pupils of a London East End primary school will team up with Bow Arts Trust - an
educational charity - to create a breathing place in the heart of urban East
London, thanks to an award of £10,000 from the Big Lottery Fund.
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Bow Arts Trust,
in Tower Hamlets, will use its award to organise a competition for graduate
landscape designers.
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The winner will be commissioned to realise their design by
converting the concrete courtyard of the trust headquarters, with assistance from
volunteers and the local school, Clara Grant Primary.
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Annie Bicknell, Bow Arts education and events manager, said: "The completed breathing place will benefit all visitors to Bow Arts Trust, which
is open to the public. The new breathing place will be used as a haven to escape
from city life and also for educational art workshops for local schools."
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More information about Breathing Places can be found at
bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces and www.biglotteryfund.org.uk.
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Notes to Editors
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Breathing Places
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Breathing Places is a three-year campaign to inspire people to create and
care for green spaces where they live - from neighbourhood parks, school grounds
and workplaces to local nature reserves.
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These places are great for people and
wildlife. It aims to transform thousands of places across the UK.
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Find out more
about projects and events by signing up to the Breathing Places newsletter at
bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces.
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Breathing Places is an initiative being delivered by the Â鶹ԼÅÄ, the Big
Lottery Fund and a host of external organisations.
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Key partners include The
Wildlife Trusts, BTCV, RSPB, the Woodland Trust and The Tree Council.
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Over the last week, Â鶹ԼÅÄ's Autumnwatch has been encouraging people to go
out and take part in the Breathing Places Seed Hunt, as part of The Tree
Council's Seed Gathering Season (runs until 23 October). Find out how to take
part at bbc.co.uk/breathing places
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The Big Lottery Fund
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The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) operates the Breathing Places grants
programme.
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The fund is the joint operating name of the New
Opportunities Fund and the National Lottery Charities Board (which made grants
under the name of the Community Fund).
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The Big Lottery Fund, launched on 1 June
2004, distributes half of all National Lottery good cause funding across the UK.
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The Big Lottery Fund has committed £5m to a dedicated Breathing Places
grants programme. All money will go to community groups and partner organisations
to help them create breathing places.
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To find more information about the Breathing Places grants programme and to download
an application pack please visit BIG's website at biglotteryfund.org.uk or call
0845 367 0610 (textphone 0845 602 1659)
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Breathing Places is supported by public libraries across the UK. Members
of the public can pick up a free Breathing Places booklet at their local library,
with more information about the campaign and the grants programme.
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