The £20,000 fund was launched in November last year, with applications received for a wide variety of projects across Treverbyn, Carlyon, St Blaise and Luxulyan parishes.
The projects supported span improvements to local recreation facilities, developing and resourcing outdoor learning environments, wildlife habitats and a sensory garden in schools.
They also include building welfare facilities in a forest learning setting for young people, running a mobile community larder, and supporting a community seed library and plant swap events.
Most of the projects are due to start soon and, as they progress, Eden Geothermal will be providing more information and updates on their website at https://www.edengeothermal.com/community/
Eden Geothermal Executive Director Augusta Grand said: “The projects we’re supporting are a testament to the commitment and creativity of the many groups working to improve the local environment and facilities, to support their communities and to connect people to nature.
“We’re delighted to be able to help some of them, and are looking forward to seeing these initiatives move forward.”
The nine groups awarded funding are:
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- Treverbyn Community Trust: a year’s running costs for the Mobile Community Larder, delivering food support to where it’s needed;
- Trethurgy Village Hall: improvements to the village playing field (replacement goal posts; a new table tennis table; matting for a basketball area; new benches);
- St Blaise Town Council: contribution to the refurbishment of Penarwyn Green play area (new spring rockers for the Under-3s);
- Friends of Menacuddle Well: creation of a new path to improve access for the elderly and wheelchair and buggy users;
- Biscovey Academy: resources to develop an outdoor learning environment for use by pupils with SEMH needs and the wider school;
- Bugle School: transformation of the school field into an eco-friendly learning area that encourages wildlife and promotes pupils’ understanding of and connection with nature;
- Luxulyan School: creation of a sensory garden to provide a space for quiet reflection and commemoration;
- Cornish Acorn: construction of a shelter and welfare facilities in an outdoor learning setting for a young women’s group;
- Bugle Library of Things: promoting engagement with nature by setting up a seed library and running community plant swap events.
Eden Geothermal Ltd is a three-way partnership between Eden Project Limited, EGS Energy Limited, a leading geothermal development and consultancy group with experience in Cornwall and worldwide, and BESTEC (UK) Limited, which is affiliated with BESTEC GmbH, the specialist geothermal developer and drilling advisor. The company was set up to deliver Phase One of the Eden Geothermal Project.
Phase One of the Eden Geothermal Project is currently underway; a 4,500m deep well is being drilled to harness the geothermal heat deep in the granite beneath the Eden Project. Once completed, a co-axial circulation system and heat main will be installed, enabling green, renewable energy to be used to heat the Biomes, greenhouses and other facilities at Eden, with a demonstration of the greenhouse gas savings achieved.
Phase One of the Eden Geothermal Project is funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund and Cornwall Council, with commercial funding from Gravis Capital Management.
The Eden Geothermal Community Fund is administered by the Eden Project Development Team.
