Community groups are being urged to apply for grants of up to £1,000 being offered by East Cambridgeshire District Council.

The money can be spent on new or existing projects designed to improve the quality of life for residents.

The Friends of the Woodland Garden, based at Peacocks Meadow in Littleport, was recently successful in applying for a grant.

Deborah Curtis-Watson, who organises the project, said: “We are very grateful to the council for its community grant fund donation.

“The money will enable us to buy bird and bat boxes, and other wildlife shelters.

“These will be made and decorated by members of the PORT Youth Club, who are now based in Littleport’s new Youth and Community Centre which is linked to Peacocks Meadow by a tree lined walkway.

“We aim to fill the wooded walkway with 40 bird boxes, five hedgehog houses and create frog and toad shelters from recycled materials.

“As well as helping local wildlife, the community grant will allow us to continue to engage young people in environmental and eco-art activities.

“Young people are the guardians of the future, and we hope that by engaging them in environmental activities we will inspire them to continue this work as they grow older.

“The project will also help to continue the Friends of the Woodland Garden’s mission to create an enriching natural habitat at the community gardens, which are free and open for all to enjoy.”

Other recipients in the last funding round included Ely Methodist Church, which has used the funding to help subsidise the Make Way community choir; Care Network, which is offering wellbeing support and Little Thetford Village Hall, which is using the money to offer an enhanced community entertainment programme.

Cllr Julia Huffer, chair of the operational services committee, said: “This grant is a fantastic opportunity for all community groups across the district.

“It could be the boost they need to launch a new project or inject cash into an existing initiative.”

The East Cambridgeshire Community Fund will be open to applications between June 30 and August 11.