Hitchin community groups and businesses can now bid for grants of between £1,000 and £20,000 to help make the town greener and more resilient to climate change.

The funding comes from North Herts Council's new Sustainable Communities Grant, backed by £76,564 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government. Applications are open until 14 September 2025, with all projects needing to be completed by March 2026.

Eligible projects include creating wildflower areas, improving energy efficiency in buildings, installing renewable technologies like solar panels, promoting sustainable transport, or running community training and events on sustainability.

Projects must support the council's goal of a Net Zero North Herts and meet at least one aim such as reducing emissions, boosting climate resilience, conserving biodiversity, or cutting waste.

Cllr Amy Allen, Executive Member for Environment, said: "This is a great opportunity for community groups and businesses to get involved in helping achieve our sustainability aims. These grants empower our local communities to take action and create a greener future for North Herts."

More information and application details are available on the North Herts Council website.