The Silverlake Conservation and Community Fund is a joint fund between:
- Dorset Council
- Dorset Natural Environment Team
- Habitat First
The fund is a legal agreement as part of the Silverlake planning permission.
Silverlake is a development on the former Warmwell quarry, west of Crossways. It has planning permission to build up to 1,000 holiday homes over the next 30 years.
Each homeowner must pay an annual sum of at least £50. This is to fund nature conservation and community projects that help reduce the effects of the development on nearby protected heathlands.
The developer tops up the fund to make up a contribution of at least £10,000 a year.
Silverlake conservation and community fund area
The fund is open to bid applications for eligible projects within the parished areas of:
- Warmwell
- Crossways
- Knightsford
- Broadmayne
- Owermoigne
- Puddletown
- Moreton
- Winfrith Newburgh
Applicants can apply for up to £5,000 per year from the fund.
Read the Silverlake Conservation and Community guidance note for details of the application and assessment process.
The application deadlines for 2024 are to be confirmed as soon as possible. Please contact us if you have any query regarding a potential application.
To apply:
- Download the Silverlake Conservation and Community Fund application form.
- Read the Silverlake Conservation and Community Guidance, which offers help on filling out the form.
- Submit the form and relevant information to us using our contact details - marked for the attention of the Team Leader.
- Send a copy of the form and relevant information to the representative for the Dorset AONB Partnership using their contact details.
Funding awarded
These are awards made since the fund started in April 2018.