Councils are to receive £15m funding to enrich green areas in towns and cities.
The investment is part of a £1bn project delivered by Natural England, the National Trust and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, designed to help local authorities maximise natural heritage and urban green spaces.
As part of the scheme, the £15m will be divided into grants to assist councils in improving local biodiversity, green infrastructure and community wellbeing, creating ‘happier places for people to live and work’.
Both Bradford and Belfast have already received grants of more than £800,000 each to fund the development of ‘green and blue infrastructure strategies’ in the former, and ‘nature recovery’ plans across the city in the latter.
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: ‘We have invested over £1billion in regenerating over 900 urban parks and green spaces over the last 30 years, helping nature thrive in towns everywhere.
‘This exciting initiative, working with partners right across the UK, will build on this investment and give millions of people better access to nature close to home.’
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