Contact us to find out more.
Professional services
Our expert team can offer services across the following specialist areas:
Land management for people and wildlife
We can help with your land management project from beginning to end, including:
- site audit and evaluation
- developing a shared vision amongst stakeholders and partners
- management plan production, ranging from simple map based proposals to Green Flag quality plans
- specification of works
- legal compliance and consenting
- resourcing
- procurement up to full tender and tender evaluation
- contract management
- community concern and complaint management
- celebration, incorporating political engagement.
Community engagement
We deliver social value through public engagement, communication and practical involvement by:
- Encouraging the community to engage with their local greenspaces through supporting Friends of Greenspaces groups.
- Providing training and support to enable voluntary activities in a safe environment.
- Running weekly groups for conservation volunteers who deliver practical conservation and access improvements.
- Providing opportunities for corporate volunteering
- Launching a volunteering scheme to help monitor and maintain Hertfordshire's rights of way.
- Supporting a large team of trained volunteers to run the Hertfordshire Health Walks scheme - a free, county-wide health improvement initiative.
Contact us to find out more.
Environmental improvement grants
How to apply
Please contact us to discuss your application prior to submission.
Applications and enquiries to:
Countryside and Rights of Way Service (Postal Point CHN101)
Hertfordshire County Council
County Hall
Pegs Lane
Hertford
SG13 8DN
Tel: 01992 588433
E-mail: cms@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Hertfordshire environmental improvement grant application form (DOCX, 263kb)
How much funding is available
The maximum grant available to any one project is £3000, and grants will usually be payable at 50% of agreed costs.
Who can apply
The scheme is available within Hertfordshire to community-based organisations including parish and town councils, and to private landowners and land managers.
Projects the scheme will fund
Grant funding will be allocated to projects which meet our core biodiversity and wildlife objectives, as set out in the Sustainable Hertfordshire Strategy and the Tree and Woodland Strategy:
- To enhance nature in Hertfordshire by 20% by 2050
- To help establish at least 1.8 million trees including at least 100km of hedgerows across Hertfordshire by 2030.
Works proposed must not be required by planning condition, statutory duty or any other legal or contractual obligation, and will be appropriate to the ecology, landscape and archaeology of the area. The range of qualifying activity includes but is not limited to:
- Ecological improvement – projects that aim to enhance biodiversity such as the restoration of wildflower meadows or management of trees and woodland
- Tree planting – small areas not eligible for the England Woodland Creation Offer (i.e. under one hectare)
- Hedgerow creation or management – new planting, laying and coppicing projects that fall outside the scope of the current government schemes
- Water bodies and wetlands – such as the creation or restoration of ponds, wetlands or reedbed
Grants can cover the costs of:
- Tools, equipment and material in support of community activity
- Seeds, shrubs and trees
- Contractors
- The hire and transport of plant or equipment
This list is not exclusive. Please contact us to discuss your project if you are unsure of its suitability.
Wildflower meadow creation.
What to include in your application
Applications should outline the project, its location, and its ability to meet the objectives of the scheme. The application should identify costs and other sources of income, which may include voluntary activity valued according to National Lottery Heritage Fund guidelines, as well as the outcomes proposed. These outcomes should be clearly defined and measurable to enable comparison of grant applications against the objectives of the scheme.
What happens next
Applications will be acknowledged and considered by officers of the Countryside and Rights of Way Service. The applicant will then receive a written response confirming or declining grant offer. Offer of grant will be conditional on the recipient complying with any conditions expressed, including the provision of before and after photographs and meeting in full the publicity requirements to ensure appropriate recognition of the Hertfordshire County Council contribution to the project.
Once the accompanying grant pursuant agreement is signed, work may begin.
Grant funded projects will be allocated a case officer in the Countryside and Rights of Way Service, and work will be carried out following any advice received from that officer. Work completed will be reviewed by the case officer and confirmed as complete before the grant is paid. Grant aided work must be completed and grant claimed by 31st March in the financial year of award.