Community projects have secured more than £2.5m worth of grants since Falkirk Environment Trust (FET) was set up in 1998, councillors have heard.

FET was originally formed to distribute monies raised from what was called landfill tax. It now allocates money from a variety of sources, including non-landfill related cash. Backers include Falkirk Council and Scottish Natural Heritage.

On Tuesday members of the Council's Leisure, Tourism and Community committee heard that FET awarded nearly £260,000 in grants to local projects in 2008/09.

Big beneficiaries from the main grant scheme during the year were:

* The Hallglen Haven Project (Central Scotland Forest Trust) £50,000;

* Topps Wood Project (Central Scotland Forest Trust) £42,198

* Drumwood Access project (Falkirk Area Riders Action Group) £35,000

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* Bellsrig Woodland Project(Shieldhill and California Community Council)£35,000

* Inter-tidal Regulation Skinflats Project (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) £26,000;

* Kinneil Woodland Paths Project, Bo'ness (Central Scotland Forest Trust) £21,012

* Jupiter Wildlife Park Upgrade, Grangemouth (Scottish Wildlife Trust) £16,121;

* California Right of Way Project (Central Scotland Forest Trust) £8,821; and

* River Avon Heritage Trail Phase 2 (Central Scotland Forest Trust) £8,400.

Nearly £15,000 was awarded in smaller grants, including: £900 for a river fly survey workshop; £2,075 for wildflower planting; £4,449 for Bowhouse Bairns Playpark in Grangemouth; and £3,770 for a public biodiversity garden project.

Councillor Adrian Mahoney, Convener of the Council's Leisure, Tourism and Community Committee said: "Environmental projects big or small have a huge impact in local communities.

"A lot of these projects wouldn't get off the ground if it wasn't for the vital funding available from the Falkirk Environmental Trust.

"Hundreds of projects have been funded throughout the Falkirk Council area promoting growth and development in a way that is fair and lasting whilst protecting the environment."

Under its Main Grants Scheme, the Trust can award grants from £4,500 to £50,000 to local environmental projects. FET also operates a Small Grants Scheme which can award up to £4,500. Small Grants are fast tracked to allow Community Groups the ability to run events, get start-up grants, perform smaller construction activities, or develop projects that can later pursue the Main Grants Scheme.

(GK)