RURAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
 
Funding for rural development projects has been hard to find since the England Rural Development Plan finished in 2006. Schemes such as the Rural Enterprise Scheme and Vocational Training Scheme provided much needed cash to projects across the country until June 2006.

The new Rural Development Programme for England is gradually taking shape with three key areas of funding. 

Axis 1 Improving competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sectors
Axis 2 Improving the environment through Environmental Stewardship
Axis 3 Improving rural quality of life and diversification of the rural economy

Axis 1 and Axis 2 will be available from the 18th January 2008.  SEEDA are running a series of workshops to introduce the new grant streams on the following dates:

12th February Sutton Scotney, Hampshire
14th February Lenham, Kent
26th February Horton Cum Studley, Oxofordshire
28th February Ashington, Sussex




Axis 2 Environmental Stewardship grants are administered by Natural England.