At the Botanical Gardens yesterday, the Environment Minister awarded over $50,000 to give prisoners greenhouses, restore a former slave lock up and save the Cahow through film-making.

?Ealier this year, we presented grants to a number of other deserving people whose projects are well underway,? Minister Neletha Butterfield said.

?This funding period generated an extremely high level of interest with 31 applications submitted from a variety of individuals, businesses, community organisations, schools and environments Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO?s).

?Applications ranged from research into the application of environmentally sensitive technologies to film productions to celebrate the success of local conservation efforts.?

Acting Permanent Secretary of the Environment, Dr. Tom Sleeter, said yesterday the most one group was presented was $10,000 and the least was $3,000 based on their ?chances of success?. The ten groups which won were:

Sally Godet ? Best Home and Garden.

?The first winner of this very new category, Mrs. Godet has an outstanding home garden that includes a vegetable garden and fruit orchard with over 25 varieties of fruit. She and her husband employ environmentally sensitive methods such as composting all horticultural wastes on site, wherever possible,? she said.

Richard Bascome ? Anaerobic Digester.

?Mr. Bascome of Westover Farm wishes to install an anaerobic digester to compost the manure from his dairy herd producing high quality fertiliser and methane gas that will be used as a fuel on site.

Bermuda National Trust ? Heritage Exhibition.

?This collaborative venture plans to bring the Trust together with BUEI, the Bermuda Maritime Museum and the Custodian of Historic Wrecks to produce exhibits that celebrate Bermuda?s cultural heritage.

Audubon Society ? Bermuda?s Treasure Island ? A Film of Nonsuch.

?The Society is partnering with a world-class film production company to produce a natural history documentary centred on the successful restoration of Nonsuch and the conservation of Bermuda?s national bird, the Cahow.

Afflaire Films? Rara Avis ? A film celebrating the conservation of the Cahow.

?Similar to the Bermuda?s Treasure Island film, Rara Avis focuses on the successful story of the Cahow and conservation on Nonsuch, but with a more human focus; detailing the personal stories of David Wingate, his successor Jeremy Madeiros and the many other Bermudians who contributed to this effort.

Monte Cristo Gardens ? square foot gardens for seniors.

?With an aim of restoring and improving the gardens that were destroyed with Hurricane Fabian, Monte Cristo gardens receives a grant to continue their work of using gardening to enhance the lives of the seniors in their care.

Grow Food First ? greenhouse for the prison farm?s agricultural programme.

?Recognising that inmates often achieve an improved state of peace through gardening this important programme receives a grant for a new greenhouse.

Mrs. Lowayne Woolridge ? restoration of the Old Watch House, Somerset.

?Property owner Mrs. Woolridge will work with the Bermuda National Trust to restore this historically important structure was once used as a ?lock up? for wandering slaves.

The Bermuda National Trust ? used fishing line collection and awareness programme.

?This established programme that aims to reduce the amount of mono-filament fishing line that pollute popular fishing sites around the Island will receive a boost to fund the production of a pamphlet advertising the programme along with additional line drop-off bins.

?I am pleased today to present environmental grants to ten individuals and organisations whose projects demonstrate their commitment to protecting Bermuda?s natural environment,? she said.

?For many years the Environment Ministry has promoted partnerships with all segments of the community for consultation, cooperation and inspiration. The Environmental Grants scheme is one of them?.