Rural Development Programme for England  
Update February 2010
The thread running through our February newsletter is the diversity of opportunity that RDPE support and funding provides for rural businesses and communities. This is particularly true of two major grant awards; one means an established company has been able to go ahead with a major expansion, which will bring more jobs in a rural area and new opportunities for farmers, while a grant for a major tourism initiative will enable more people to enjoy our inland lakes - and open up new opportunities for local businesses.
 
Expansion will bring jobs and opportunities
With the aid of a record £5.7 million South West RDPE grant, a Cornish dairy is about to embark on a major expansion that will create jobs and new opportunities for milk suppliers. For further details, please view our press release page by clicking on the link below.
Read more »
     
Introducing new activities at inland lakes

A project to introduce new activities - ranging from low-impact sports like bird watching through to water-based sports - at five lakes in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset has been made possible by a £2.2 million grant from the RDPE Sustainable Rural Tourism Fund. For further details, please view our press release page by clicking on the link below Read more »
     
New environmental payments for upland farmers
A new payment is now open to hill farmers working in the uplands through the Entry Level Stewardship (Uplands ELS). It is a Defra scheme administered by Natural England and is designed to support and reward farmers in protecting some of England's most iconic upland landscapes.  
Read more »
     

Local Action Group reaches out to young people

The Sowing SEEDS Local Action Group has hit on a novel approach to encouraging the involvement of young people in their work.
Read more »
     
Journey from idea to grant success

Farmers Ian and Yta Batchelor have just seen work start on a 30-week project to turn redundant barns into a wedding venue.  Read how they went about getting their RDPE grant. by clicking on the link below to view our press release page
Read more »
     

Forthcoming events


Dorset -
Workshops on support available through RDPE programme. Learn more about the Local Action groups and the funding available under the SWARM Programme.
For more information on these free seminars taking place on 9th and 12th March, or to book - please contact katherine.sealy@kmc.ac.uk or call 01305 215167

Somerset -
Accessing advice and funding from the RDPE seminars - aimed at those in the agricultural industry, this seminar outlines grants and support currently available under the RDPE programme.
These free seminars are taking place in Taunton on 17th March at Ruishton Village Hall and in Somerton at Compton Dundon Village Hall on 18th March.
For more information and booking details, click on one of the dates above or phone 0845 600 9966.

Cornwall -
Rural Development Programme - in practice. Learn more about the progress and opportunities through RDPE in Cornwall on 13 April at The Pavilion Centre in Wadebridge 10 until 4. For more information, contact Emma Barrett on 01209 616097 or email emma.barrett@cornwalldevelopmentcompany.co.uk 

For further details of these and future events, visit the Conference and Events page on the South West Rural Gateway Website.
The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas