Working in partnership, supporting great projects and inspiring people
The Cotswolds Champions Programme is a showcase for projects that illustrate how we work in partnership to conserve and enhance the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
From local farmers and landowners to community groups and environmental charities, lots of people work hard to look after the Cotswolds’ special qualities, making it a great place for residents, visitors and wildlife alike. The Cotswolds Champions Programme aims to celebrate some of those who lead the way, and to help fund a selection of ambitious and important new projects.
We also want to demonstrate what the Cotswolds Conservation Board’s (CCB) role is when working with others, and how it can influence a project’s success. By demonstrating what’s possible, we hope that more people will get involved. And by working together, we can achieve far more.
Delivering the programme
The programme will initially run from summer 2020 to winter 2023, during which time we will announce the selection of supported projects, each of which will receive a share of the programme’s £400,000 budget as a contribution towards costs.
Selected projects will cover a range of priorities, such as conserving and enhancing the landscape, supporting nature’s recovery, improving river catchments, tackling climate change, and connecting people with the countryside. They will also represent some of the key people and organisations that are addressing these issues in the AONB. We’re already in contact with many of them, developing opportunities, but we’re also happy to hear from others that would like to discuss a potential project.
Funding for the programme was secured by the CCB from Network Rail, following negotiations, to mitigate and compensate for the adverse impacts of rail electrification works in the AONB between Old Sodbury and Alderton. Consequently, the programme is currently limited to projects in the south and central Cotswolds only.
Projects
We’ll begin announcing supported projects shortly – please visit this page again soon for updates and follow us on Twitter.
To find out more, please contact the Cotswolds Champions Project Officer, Scott Brown: scott.brown@cotswolds-nl.org.uk