The CSV Action Earth campaign  launches on Monday 30 May in Scotland. Hundreds of grants worth up to £500 are available to voluntary groups and individuals thanks to support from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).  The grants are designed to help people improve their local environment and coincide with a local project that is encouraging endangered frogs and newts to breed.

To launch the CSV Action Earth campaign, Stirling Council’s Countryside Ranger Service, Councillor Jim Thomson, participants in the recently launched Volunteer Ranger Service and other local volunteers will be creating new ponds to home and protect endangered frogs and newts at Balquhidderock Wood Local Nature Reserve in Stirling. The number of ponds in parks has been declining over 50 years and this has decreased habitats for endangered frogs and newts. By creating new ponds close to other ponds, they will help the frogs and newts to mate.

Last year the CSV Action Earth campaign planted 5,400 trees, 29,000 bulbs and installed 1,123 bird and bat boxes. Overall energy savings were enough to power 225 million hours of television – which is enough for everyone in the UK to watch the movie epic ‘Avatar’ plus an episode of EastEnders.

During the current year European Year of the Volunteer, thousands of people across Scotland will be improving their local environment by planting nectar-rich flowers to attract butterflies and bees, growing fruit-bearing trees to attract birds, creating new homes for a range of species including birds and bats and improving green spaces to boost wildlife.

Scott Ferguson of Scottish Natural Heritage says “Volunteers across Scotland are vital to improve places like Balquhidderock Wood. Volunteering is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, learn new skills and meet others, while also improving communities and Scotland's biodiversity. We hope that CSV Action Earth will encourage more people to help create a network of great places for people and wildlife across Scotland.”

Margaret Gibb of CSV Action Earth says: "It is great news for the environment that Scottish National Heritage is funding volunteering projects. Last year volunteers across the country had a tremendous impact and showed how each one of us can help tackle environmental projects in our own back yard."

The CSV Action Earth campaign has grants available to people across Scotland to help improve their local environment. The campaign will provide volunteers and groups with grants of up to £250 to help kick start community biodiversity projects in their local area and to attract new volunteers. Local Nature Reserves can also apply for enhanced grants of £500 to attract new volunteers through practical activities and educational or recording events on their site. Grants are limited so it’s worth acting fast!

Volunteering is not only good for the environment it helps you feel better too. Independent research commissioned by CSV shows that 55% of people feel happier when they help a friend or neighbour with a problem, while 61% say volunteering helps them combat stress.  Being green is a real way to beat the blues!

So why not take the initiative and make a positive contribution in your local environment? Sign up now to CSV Action Earth 2011 by visiting www.csv.org.uk/actionearth or call 0131 222 9083.

For further press information and pictures contact: Francesca Toma on 020 7812 0037 or 07966 168686 or Jason Tanner on 07941 433598

Notes for editors

1.    CSV (Community Service Volunteers) creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their communities through volunteering, training and community action. Last year 167,064 people gave their time as volunteer s through CSV. The charity trained 12,196 people of all ages.
2.    Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) supports the project in Scotland.  SNH is the Government’s adviser on all aspects of nature and landscape across Scotland. Our role is to help everyone understand, value and enjoy Scotland’s nature now and in the future. For further information on SNH, please visit our website at www.snh.org.uk

3.    CSV Action Earth grants are available from May 2011 to October 2011.

4.    CSV Action Earth is organised by CSV Scotland, 12 Torphichen Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8JQ. 0131 622 7766