Over 30 community groups are to share £211,549 from the Department of Environment's (DOE) Challenge funds to carry out environmental projects.

In total 33 community groups were awarded funding to give their local environment a boost.

The Challenge Fund still remains open for schools and the closing date is 25 September 2015.

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The projects cover every aspect of the environment from red squirrel and pine marten protection in Newry, beach cleans in Kilkeel to river restoration in Fermanagh and community allotments and woodland management in Derry.

Environment Minister Mark H Durkan said: "It is heart warming to see so many people in our community coming together to produce innovative schemes to enhance their local environment. I commend them for it. It is fitting that 33 community group projects will get a leg up from Government. I pledged that money raised from our 5p levy on carrier bags would be ploughed back into the environment. The Challenge Fund is one way of doing that."

(CD)