In 2020 we launched the Sustainable Communities Fund, aimed at supporting local regeneration and sustainable development around Scotland’s coast.To date, we have provided a total of £1.4m to successful applicants.
The fund is split into two separate grant streams: Community Capacity Grants and Environment Grants.
One of the early projects which we supported through an Environment Grant was an effort to manage watercourses and create hedgerows on our Applegirth Estate, encouraging greater biodiversity. Undertaken by our farming tenant, Andrew Jardine (pictured), the project received a grant of £20,000.
In 2023 'The Ridge' received a grant of £50,000 from Crown Estate Scotland's Community Capacity Grants fund. This money will help the Dunbar-based training charity to support more young people to learn new skills and gain employment, and will help pay for a new training centre.
Other successful projects supported by the fund include:
Community Capacity Grants
- £47,000 to assist with costs of the architectural and designer services required for eight affordable homes in Torridon
- £47,000 help transform a derelict local barn into a viable community hub in Nether Lochaber
- £12,000 for a study to support regeneration in Kirkcaldy town centre
Environment Grants
- £12,846 to set up a Community Orchard within Three Hares Community Woodland on our Whitehill Estate
- £18,500 to fund a community tree nursery project focusing on native trees in Skye
- £19,281 to map and restore 1000m2 of seagrass meadow in Loch Craignish