More funding for a sustainable future on Dartmoor

The most recent meeting of the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund (DSDF) panel has resulted in Dartmoor National Park Authority supporting five exciting new projects across Dartmoor.

Okehampton College, Brimpts Farm, South West Devon Community Energy Partnership, Growing Our Future and Camphill Community in Buckfastleigh, have together benefited from £31,350 of support from the DSDF to deliver projects that will help reduce energy use, develop local tourism business opportunities and promote local food.

The aim of the DSDF is to encourage and support individuals, community groups and businesses to develop practical, local projects that develop and test new ways of achieving a more sustainable way of living, which enhance and conserve local culture, wildlife, landscape and community.

Okehampton College have gained national and international recognition for the work they have done in slashing their energy consumption and generating renewable energy. Their new DSDF supported project will work with Devon Association for Renewable Energy to install portable electricity, gas and water monitors in 10 schools and organisations across Dartmoor. With Okehampton College having reduced their energy consumption by half, the hope is that other schools and organisations will be helped to find ways of making similar savings.

Eighteen-year-old Josephine Bradford from Brimpts Farm has been supported to develop a business plan and carry out market research to investigate the potential for a series of camping pods across Dartmoor. The pods will be created from locally sourced materials and will provide visitors to Dartmoor with a warmer drier alternative to camping, thereby extending the tourist season. Josephine hopes that the camping pods may provide young farmers with an alternative income stream.

South West Devon Community Energy Partnership have been supported to develop and deliver a range of workshops in five communities across Dartmoor to better understand the potential for retrofit energy saving measures. These will include independent advice on issues such as secondary glazing, draught proofing, solid wall insulation and potential treatments for building that are listed or in a Conservation Area. The project is applying for other funding that will allow them to work with the communities to help broker deals with local installers to drive down installation costs.

Growing Our Future work with local toddler groups, schools and community groups in Okehampton, Dartmoor and West Devon and use food, growing, art and design to inspire people to engage in more sustainable lifestyles. The DSDF funding will help support the kitting out of their Ecohub building, including rainwater harvesting equipment to water the garden, plus a range of resources from garden tools to wildlife identification kits.

Camphill Community, near Buckfastleigh, provide accommodation and support for people with learning difficulties. As they are off the gas-grid they are dependent on expensive heating oil. The DSDF is supporting the community by part-funding an energy audit and renewable energy options analysis to help them understand the most cost-effective ways that they could reduce their consumption and generate energy.

Alison Kohler, Director of Conservation and Communities, Dartmoor National Park Authority, said: "We are delighted to offer grants to such an interesting range of projects showing the breadth of work that the DSDF can support. Once again the commitment and hard work shown by the applicants was clearly evident and we hope that many other individuals and organisations across Dartmoor will be inspired by their examples."

"With further DSDF funding available this financial year, we would encourage anyone who has an idea for a project that demonstrates environmental, social and local economic benefits for Dartmoor to get in touch to discuss their ideas and find out about making an application."

Potential applicants should visit www.dartmoor.gov.uk/DSDF for further details.

The next panel meeting is on 22 November 2013 and any project ideas must have been discussed with the Sustainable Development Officer in advance and a completed application form received by 1 November at the latest.