More than £18,000 has been awarded to community projects in the Dedham Vale National Landscape & Stour Valley through the annual Sustainable Development Fund for the 2026-27 year.
The Sustainable Development Fund is available to a variety of local community and conservation organisations, or individuals, to support projects for the conservation and enhancement of the natural beauty of the Dedham Vale National Landscape.
10 projects in total were funded, with project delivery for the Sustainable Development Fund running between April 2026 – March 2027.
10 projects = Total awarded £18,600
1 RSPB Stour Estuary awarded £293.50
Project: Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) student training
Staff/volunteers to teach University of Suffolk Conservation Degree students basic Wetland Bird survey work, to recruit more WeBS counters on the Stour, and to support their Survey module.
2 Dedham Vale National Landscape awarded £706.85
Project: Hay Wain Rambles
To take underrepresented groups to Christchurch Mansion to see John Constable’s paintings of the Dedham Vale and to visit Flatford to experience the landscape and nature which inspired him to be a painter by walking in the landscape and doing simple art-based activities.
3 Footpath Explorers awarded £989
Project: Footpath Explorers: Wellbeing Walks in the Dedham Vale
A programme of free, gentle wellbeing walks in the Dedham Vale, supporting people new to walking to explore and understand local landscapes, connect socially, and improve health through countryside access
4 Suffolk Bird Group awarded £1,000
Project: House Martin Support Suffolk (HMSS)
This grant supports the provision of free surveys and advice re- mud, nest cups, insect friendly habitat to help maintain and expand existing nest colonies and to create new ones too.
5 PACE Manningtree awarded £2,000
Project: Manningtree Earth Festival 2026
Stimulating programme of events throughout May/June 2026 around Manningtree, raising awareness of changing climate and threats to biodiversity and what we can all do to build resilience in our communities.
6 Community Rail Partnership awarded £2,470
Project: Community rail walks -Dedham Vale
This grant supports three subsidised train journeys and walks from local train stations with Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership (ESSCRP) for minority groups based in Essex and Suffolk. Providing lunch on all three walks and English Lesson on a train for one group.
7 Dedham Therapy Farm awarded £2,200
Project: Sustainable Therapy Farm Project
The project will make the therapy farm more environmentally friendly by installing a compost toilet for the paddocks.
8 Field Studies Council, Flatford Mill awarded £5,654.78
Project: Connecting with Constable 250
Nature and art-inspired visits for 300 children, free at the point of delivery, to increase contact with Dedham Vale wildlife and connect to the cultural heritage of Constable’s paintings.
9 PHOEBE awarded £3,300
Project: Ambling African Women
This grant supports the delivery of walks for Black, minoritised, and migrant women.
10 Dedham Vale Society awarded £290
Project: Celestial Plushies
To use Celestial Plushies for children’s astronomy talks at The Discovery Centre to bring in a younger audience as well as for use at primary school astronomy talks and events in the local area.
You can find out more about the Sustainable Development Fund at https://dedhamvale-nl.org.uk/managing/grants/sustainable-development-fund/.