Stockport projects among latest beneficiaries of Greater Manchester’s Green Spaces Fund

Two Stockport projects are among 31 community-led schemes to have been awarded funding from Round Two of Greater Manchester’s Green Spaces Fund.

The first round of the scheme, announced at the Green Summit in October 2022, saw almost £400,000 allocated to 21 projects across the city-region. Round Two funding has awarded nearly £800,000 to projects in all ten boroughs to improve or create local green spaces.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:

“The Green Spaces Fund continues to give communities the support to improve their local areas, in turn helping to make Greater Manchester a greener and fairer place.

“The variety of schemes we’ve been able to support through the second round of the fund really demonstrates the vast benefits that green space can have, from physical and mental health wellbeing to community togetherness and the biodiversity of our city-region. This is why it’s so important that everyone has access to some form of green space wherever they live.

“The next round of funding is due to open very soon, so if you think you can make a difference to your community, I’d really encourage you to consider making an application and helping turn your local area green.”    

In Stockport, funding has been secured for the Canal Street Community Garden. The Community Garden aims to provide a much-needed accessible green space for residents and workers in a forgotten corner of industrial Stockport.

The borough’s Seeding the Change initiative has also secured funding to run weekly gardening sessions and community events for local residents.

The full list of all 31 beneficiaries of the latest funding round can be found on the GMCA website.

The Green Spaces Fund is managed by the Greater Manchester Environment Fund (GMEF). A pioneering body created in partnership with the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, GMEF brings together communities and funding bodies keen to channel their resources into addressing environmental problems.

Round 3 of the Green Spaces Fund opens to applications on Monday 27^th March 2023, offering grants of up to £40,000. For more information and to apply, visit the Greater Manchester Environmental Fund website.