A WETLAND conservation area near Upton is one of three local projects to receive funding from the Severn Waste Environmental Fund to help improve environmental sustainability.

A £50,000 Agenda 21 grant has been awarded to the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust to help buy and restore Hill Court Farm and the Blacklands with the aim of expanding conservation of the important wetland area.

The project involves restoring 121 hectares to create a core biodiversity area with public access and educational opportunities, within the larger Longdon and Eldersfield Marshes Restoration Project.

Powick Parish Hall is also to receive £4,950 from the fund to enable it to carry out a survey to discover the most environmentally beneficial materials available for resurfacing the hall's car park and drive, as well as for other similar projects.

Duckworth Worcestershire Trust, which carries out environmental work throughout the county, has been awarded £40,000 to turn a Victorian pump house in Worcester into an environmental centre with visitor and workshop facilities.

The SWEF gives financial aid to Herefordshire and Worcestershire projects with the aim of furthering sustainable development at community level through the Agenda 21 process.