1. Could my project qualify?
For a project to attract Chalk Arc funding it must be all, or partly, within the Luton and South Bedfordshire area. To confirm whether your project falls within our area click here to see a drop-down of our map.
The Chalk Arc Team are especially interested in projects that fall within the priority zones indicated by this map - such green space projects will be favourably regarded by us.
Every qualifying project must also involve either of the following types of work and may consist of any number of the tasks, as is outlined below:
i: Activity on the ground
Priorities:
Every project must deliver a Green-benefit. Chalk Arc has identified a number
of priorities by which this might be achieved – see below:
The more of these priorities a particular project involves, the greater the chance your funding application will succeed.
 Public
open space |
 Access |
 Biodiversity |
Urban parks, country parks, community woodlands, village greens |
Informal paths and bridleways, cycle routes, improvements for
disabled access and improved signage to raise awareness |
Habitats
that benefit vulnerable species or enhance habitats (i.e. grassland,
ponds, rivers or wetlands and woodland), or biodiversity interpretation |
 |
||
 Heritage |
 Landscape |
 Community
benefits |
Historic
features such as listed buildings, scheduled ancient monuments, historic
parks and gardens, ancient woodlands, and earthworks |
Projects
that increase a ‘sense of place’ by conserving
and enhancing any area’s distinctive features |
Supporting local communities in protecting and enhancing their
environment with training, equipment, wardening, events, workshops,
and/or in exploiting this environment for health, wellbeing and/or
enjoyment |
Tasks:
In order to secure one or more of these priorities, projects can involve
many different tasks.
Most projects fall into four basic categories. Either they involve working on connections or links between sites, or activity on specific sites. Further, the nature of that activity either involves restoration, creation or a combination of the two. Thus the dimensions of a project typology would consist of… |
ii: Encouraging usage
Tasks:
Provision of literature/web; install orientation signage; fostering of
community spirit by working alongside specific groups (young/families/elderly/interest
groups etc.); encouraging site usage (with talks/walks/site events
etc.); teaching communities about the environment/aspects of it; improving
sites by adding enhanced activity-oriented materials/facilities/features;
creation of ‘green classrooms’ for schoolchildren; using
green space to improve peoples’ wellbeing or health.
Is preparatory work needed?
Various types of preparatory work, other than land purchase, may also be permitted. This work could include different types of survey, such as land condition, soils, wildlife etc.; and/or planning, such as considering access options; or background research on site of landscape history etc.; training on use of tools/managing types of site; as well as tools purchase.
Requests for this type of work are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Please talk to your Green Space Advisor if you have any queries about what would be funded or not.
An
example
In Harlington volunteers from the surrounding area restored the pond and received training in how to maintain this precious environment.
To review the next key question about funds, click ‘Next step’, or select a topic/question from the ‘Green-benefit’ menu to the left.
