RESIDENTS and community groups in Pendle are being encouraged to apply for a cash grant of up to £400 to improve their local environment.

Grants between £100 and £400 are on offer to local people, including parish councils and schools, from a community partnership between Lancashire County Council, United Utilities and Pendle Council.

The Green Partnership Awards (GPA) are aimed at local people carrying out practical projects to improve their neighbourhood.

GPA provides the money and professional advice to assist this process.

Projects must:

have lasting environmental benefit

result in practical environmental improvement

involve the community

benefit the community, local wildlife and landscape

be highly visible, so that people can see and enjoy what has been done

Projects include tree and shrub planting, hedgerow restoration, pond creation, school wildlife areas, butterfly gardens, footpath and bridle way improvements, or restoration of countryside features, such as dry stone walls.

Councillor John David, the council's portfolio holder for the environment, said: "Everyone can get involved in a GPA project.

"These are small-scale projects by their nature, but if lots of people are involved the projects can make a tangible improvement to the local environment."

Helen Blyth, the council's assistant policy officer, said: "The Partnership expects a certain level of investment from the applicant group. However don't let this put you off because the partnership is particularly keen to support projects where volunteer effort or gifts in kind are making a contribution to the scheme, such as building materials, tools, tool hire, plants, specialist advice, equipment or labour, or where the GPA grant would be used to attract further funding from other sources."

To apply online, people should go to www.lancsenvironment.com/grants and click on Green Partnership Awards to fill in an application form. They can also ring 01772 264197.