Expression of Interest window for £1.5m Glastir grant scheme opens on 27th June

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Welsh Rural Affairs secretary Lesley Griffiths has announced an Expression of Interest window for a £1.5m grant scheme supporting projects which benefit the environment.

The window will open on the 27th June.

The first window of the Glastir Small Grants scheme will provide grants of up to £5,000 per customer for capital works which reduce carbon emissions, improve water quality, reduce flood risks and increase Wales’ native biodiversity.

The Cabinet Secretary announced the opening of the Expression of Interest window during a speech at the Farmers Union Wales’ Annual General Meeting.

During the speech she also reiterated the important role farming will play in supporting the Welsh Government in its aims to reduce Wales’ carbon emissions.

Lesley Griffiths said: "Following the announcement of the Glastir Small Grants scheme in February, I am pleased to announce the first Expression of Interest window will open on June 27 and will concentrate on measures which help to lock up carbon.

"This includes funding for projects such as small woodland planting, tree planting and hedgerow creation and restoration.

"Farming and the environment go hand in hand and I am pleased my new portfolio brings together these vital issues.

"We’ve set ambitious targets to reduce Wales’ carbon emissions and we all have a role to play in achieving these goals.

"I would therefore urge farmers and landowners to take advantage of this grant scheme."

The Glastir Small Grants is a pilot scheme. The first window is worth £1.5million, with grants of up to £5,000 per customer available for capital projects.

Farmers and land owners are asked to submit applications for eligible capital projects, which will be chosen as part of a competitive selection process.

The deadline for the Expression of Interests is 29 July 2016.

Glastir Small Grants is funded through the Welsh Government and the European Commission to form part of the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme for Wales for 2014 to 2020.