IF YOU'VE got a great idea to help improve your local environment then cash may be available to help make your idea a reality.

Community groups and individuals across the district can now get a helping hand to improve the local environment, thanks to the Green Partnership Awards.

Lancaster City Council has pooled resources with the Environment Agency, Lancashire County Council and United Utilities to create a new environmental fund which will allow local groups, schools and individuals to apply for financial awards to help fund a variety of projects such as the creation of wildlife gardens, orchards, ponds, new footpaths, recycling and composting schemes.

The projects must have lasting environmental benefits and be accessible for local people to enjoy so if your group has a particularly original and sustainable project, it could become a Green Partnership Flagship scheme and be awarded up to £1,000.

Said finance chief, Cllr Geoff Wilson: "Green Partnerships is all about local people carrying out practical projects to improve their local environment for the benefit of all. We want to support projects that fulfil Local Agenda 21 principles and we encourage groups to make their projects as sustainable as possible. This might include buying local products and services, avoiding the use of environmentally damaging materials such as peat or herbicides and involving as many people from the local community in the project to instil a sense of local pride."

Steve Edwards, countryside officer for North West Lancashire added: "It's not just about providing money, we can also offer advice and help in developing projects. We are particularly keen to encourage people to think about the longer term maintenance of their schemes."

Anyone applying for a grant will have to meet certain criteria and will be expected to make a contribution to demonstrate their long term commitment to the project. The Green Partnership team is keen to support projects where the award is being used to attract further funding. For further details please contact Dr Joy Grayson, Environmental Co-ordinator at the council on 01524 582061.