THE Herdwick Sheep Breeder’s Society is one of ten groups whose projects have been awarded grants between £1,000 and £2,500 from The Lake District Foundation.

The money will be used to repair a marquee which is used at local shows and links strongly to the area's world heritage status.

Among the other projects to receive funding is Growing Well at Sizergh Farm. Schoolchildren will be invited to visit to learn how food is grown, what it needs to grow, get hands-on in an activity, and discover other wildlife.

Also getting a boost is the `Bee Hide’ Project at Heron Hill School, Kendal. It will provide a safe, inclusive, viewing area for the children and the wider community to enjoy and learn about bee keeping and the importance of the insect to the area's ecosystem.

Cash was also given to the Swifts in the Community group whose army of volunteers monitor the numbers of nesting swifts, which are in decline due to modern building design. They also give lots of local advice about how best to support the bird.

Staveley Woodlands (Cumbria Wildlife Trust) has also received a cash injection towards its recently extended nature reserve. The project involves walling off a section of land, hedging and the installation of bird and bat boxes, as well as creating a trail guide and way markers to guide people around the reserve.

And an ongoing South Cumbria River's Trust `Space Invaders’ project aimed at eradicating invasive non-native species such as Himalayan Balsam was also a successful applicant.

The Ullswater Catchment Community Interest Company got a grant towards the construction of 40 wooden cages on farmland. They will be planted with an oak tree and surrounded by other scrub plants, providing habitat for wildlife.

Another grant to Coniston Parish Council will help towards the creation of a wildflower meadow in a community space in the centre of the village.