Government handed out $46,000 for environmental initiatives yesterday.

Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield said she was very excited about the number of schools submitting proposals for gardens.

She said: "Exposing children at an early age to the commitment and work involved in producing food to eat and plants to rejuvenate our environment can only be beneficial in the long term."

She urged more members of the community to submit creative ideas and said recipients would be held accountable for the cash by submitting two six-monthly progress reports

The Environmental Grant Scheme was launched in 2003, and is designed to support individuals, schools and organisations carrying out projects that will help to highlight, preserve and restore the island's natural environment.

The Ministry allocates $100,000 each year towards this programme. Awards to projects announced yesterday include:

Individuals:

Gitte Brandenburg of Devonshire is awarded $5,000 for Humphrey goes to Bermuda — a children's book.

Pastor Daron Lowe of Hamilton Parish is awarded $9,450 for broadcasting cost for the first season's episodes of Kiesha the Mermaid.

Roger Goodchild of Southampton is awarded $5,000 for the Wet Land Restoration at Frank's Pond.

The Emperial Group of Companies (Eugene Dean) is awarded $1,000 for promoting global warming awareness in schools and to the public.

Schools:

Warwick Academy Primary is awarded $2,500 to promote environmental awareness in Bermuda.

Spice Valley Middle School is awarded $10,000 for the Spice Valley Living Organic Garden.

Dellwood Middle School is awarded $4,000 for square-foot gardening.

Saltus Grammar School is awarded $5,000 for the Saltus Island Project.

Harrington Sound Primary School is awarded $2,500 for their school garden.