Eleven different groups and organisations have received a small grant from the North Devon Coast AONB from this year's Sustainable Development Fund.

Some of the projects focussed on young people, such as Seize the Moment's 'Heave and Hell', which received £3,880 to support young people to explore the social and cultural history of local churches.

Combe Martin Museum's grant of £3,650 was to purchase an easy to use microscope, screen and binoculars for family beach safaris focussed on geology and wildlife.

Getting different communities engaged with the AONB was superbly received by North Devon Moving Image with £3,240 grant for their 'Wild Shorts' film competition about wildlife and the environment.

Looking after and understanding our local environment was the focus of a £2,000 grant to Tarka Country Trust to help local communities to manage their verges for wildlife and flowers, a grant of £281 to buy beach cleaning equipment for Croyde community beach clean.

A spokesperson said: "Projects should help to look after the North Devon Coast AONB’s special landscape, special features, wild plants or animals.

"This may be through direct activities or through learning, increasing understanding and awareness.

"A particular focus of the scheme for 2017 is the historic environment of the AONB and projects related to health and wellbeing using the AONB landscape."