As we approach the festive season once again, the Watercress and Winterbournes partners are delighted to award two more Community Grants. These pots of funding support community-led projects that protect, enhance, or celebrate the chalk stream headwaters of the Rivers Test and Itchen.
Following the great success of previous grant recipients, we're pleased to share news of these two brilliant projects. Both will be run within the stream catchments, but focus on different aspects of what makes our chalk streams so special. Expect exciting updates as they progress over the next year!
North Hampshire Bat Box Project - Hampshire Bat Group
Grant: £2,800
Hampshire Bat Group is a registered charity made up of volunteer members. As a partner group to the Bat Conservation Trust, it aims to promote and support bat conservation in Hampshire and to raise public awareness about these fascinating animals.
Having received a £2,000 Community Grant last year, Hampshire Bat Group is now expanding the scope of its project. By installing roughly 30 bat boxes along the Upper Test near Overton, it will create safe roosting spaces for a wide range of native bat species. These amazing animals love the abundant insect life of our chalk streams, but are under substantial pressure from human activity.
Learn more about Hampshire Bat Group
The River Arle: History, Heritage, and Future - The Alresford Society
Grant: £5,000
The Alresford Society is a civic society serving the town of Alresford and nearby villages. It creates opportunities for local people to help protect their heritage and countryside, as well as shape the future of their community. Its work includes fundraising, volunteering, advocacy, and an events programme.
This project will enhance the River Arle with a series of illustrated information boards. The boards, which replace existing signage that is no longer fit for purpose, will highlight the area's amazing wildlife and rich heritage. Residents and visitors alike will learn of the chalk stream's inspiring qualities, and be spurred to consider what role they could play in protecting it.
Learn more about The Alresford Society
Got a great project idea?
If you have a great idea for a chalk stream project, there's no better time to explore a Watercress and Winterbournes Community Grant. Your project could create wildlife habitat, improve public access, survey biodiversity, or engage people through art! The next round of funding closes on Monday 3 April 2023.