Conservation and Environment
Volunteers restore Hett Village pond in partnership with Durham Wildlife Trust
Hett Village residents were concerned about the condition of their village pond which had become seriously silted and overgrown and was in danger of disappearing altogether. In partnership with Durham Wildlife Trust, volunteers donned waders to pull out Flag Isis and other unwelcome vegetation to restore the pond to its original 1800’s measurements. The Trust awarded the project £1,500 to help pay the costs of hiring heavy equipment to help complete phase one of the restoration.
Chatton Village Hall was awarded a grant of £1,000 to help the committee install solar panels to the roof of the building. The hall serves a number of small rural communities living in the Tillside Valley and this project ‘will provide an income each year in addition to generating cheap, green electricity from sunlight’
The Hearth Centre is situated in Horsley village in the Tyne Valley and is a hub for local arts, music, and social events. The building is a restored early 17th century manse and it hosts eight working art studios, a café and a community hall. To make considerable savings on their electricity bills as well as demonstrating their commitment to renewable energy sources, the charity installed photovoltaic panels on the roof of their Grade II listed building. The Trust awarded this project a grant of £2,500.
