Grants of up to £15,000 could be made available to Ongar and North Weald groups involved in running local Heritage projects.

This is the message from Epping Forest District Council's external funding officer Darren Barker. He is encouraging local voluntary groups and parish councils to submit funding applications to a new scheme established by the Countryside Agency and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Mr Barker explained that the aim of the scheme is to support local heritage projects based around a range of potential topic areas. These are:

Natural heritage - focusing on wildlife habitats such as pollards, heathlands and orchards.

Archaeological heritage - including earth mounds, monuments and ancient forts.

Built heritage - such as barns, water pumps, wells, cobbles and village greens.

Industrial heritage - exemplified by chimneys, kilns, and packhorse trails.

Projects aimed at preserving local customs and traditions such as folk tales, songs and poems - along with dialects and traditional recipes - will also qualify for heritage funding under the scheme.

Said Mr Barker: "Applicants can be either local parish councils or voluntary groups with a constitution and a bank or building society account.

"Anyone who is interested can apply for any amount between £3,000 and £15,000. I will be happy to help groups complete applications forms."

For advice on eligibility and to request an application form, call the district council's information line on 01226 719019. Further information is also available online at www.lhi.org.uk

Darren Barker can be contacted for an appointment on 01992 564484.

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