ENVIRONMENTAL projects in Crow country have benefited from a council’s grants programme.

North Herts District Council has awarded £48,000 in the last 12 months to various projects in the district under its Rural Grants Programme.

Beneficiaries include an improvement programme at the old Wagon Wash pond in Barkway, where repairs are being carried out to stop water draining away through the old brickwork.

Therfield Parish Council has also been awarded funding towards its environmental project to provide information boards in the village, highlighting the village’s numerous footpaths and also to illustrate some of the special flora and fauna of the area.

Cllr Tricia Cowley, the district council’s porfolio holder for community Engagement, said: “This programme is designed to ensure that rural communities in North Herts do not get overlooked when it comes to funding for projects which, although sometimes very small in scale, can have a huge impact on the day-to-day lives of local people.

“In May we will be looking at next year’s 2013/14 grants programme and welcome applications from across the district, particularly those from parishes who have not been in touch with us this year, and from smaller hamlets.”