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ABOUT THE HEREFORDSHIRE RIVERS LEADER+ PROGRAMME

Herefordshire Rivers provides funding to support local community activity that finds new ways to enhance, interpret, utilise and record the natural environment and historical resources of the countryside. This includes the development of arts, sport, tourism and heritage. The programme is based on the national LEADER+ theme “ Making the Best Use of Natural and Cultural Resources ”.

The 4 main objectives of the programme are to:

1. Enhance the distinctiveness of the countryside, including cultural, historic and natural environment
2. Use local environmental and cultural resources for economic and recreational purposes
3. Increase environmental knowledge and skills
4. Revitalise natural processes inherent in the county's river and floodplain systems

The Programme seeks to work with and involve specific Target Groups and looks to ensure that projects are as inclusive as possible of the following groups:

• Young People
• Older People
• Unemployed
• People with part-time jobs or seasonal jobs

The programme area is based on the communities associated with the Rivers Wye and Lugg and their floodplains. The Wye and Lugg are both Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and among the 25 most important river habitats in Britain. The project area includes the major tributaries of the Arrow and Frome and the market towns of Bromyard, Leominster, Kington and Ross-on-Wye.

Total geographic area: 881.84 sq km.

Total population within area: 68,725 (1999 ONS figures).

The rivers in Herefordshire, along with their tributaries, valley landscapes and nearby villages, have been at the heart of the countryside and continue to play a key role in the County. Interestingly enough, Herefordshire contains 22% by length of the internationally important rivers in England. Historically, they have played an important part in people's lives, and also beyond. The way that rivers have been perceived and used has created their particular character and distinctiveness culminating in what we see today.

The programme is the ONLY one of its kind in the West Midlands to successfully secure LEADER+ funding and is somewhat of a flagship for the Region as a whole.

If you have an idea for a project you should contact the Herefordshire Rivers LEADER+ Programme Team to request an Expression of Interest form. This is not an application for funding and is designed to save you time by resolving any issues with your project before moving on to complete a Full Application form. Please use the information on the Contact Us page in the first instance.