Tesco Bags of Help campaign: Your chance to help distribute £30,000 to a cause in Shropshire and Mid Wales

The funds have been raised by Tesco's Bags of Help campaign through the Government's 5p bag charge, and will go towards schemes which will benefit the environment and the community.

Shoppers will be able to vote in store and online to decide which causes should receive £12,000, £10,000 and £8,000 respectively, with Shropshire Star readers having a further chance to vote for their favourite project.

A £30,000 cash boost will be split between projects across the county and Mid Wales which are listed at the bottom of this page.

How the organisations plan to use the money is outlined, and the way it is shared out will depend on how many votes each project gets.

Readers are invited to decide which project they wish to vote for, and then exchange their paper coupon printed in the Shropshire Star for a plastic token at the customer service desk at the Tesco stores acorss Shropshire and Mid Wales.

The first token will be printed in the Shropshire Star on Monday, and they will then be printed every day until November 12.

Lindsey Crompton, head of community at Tesco, said: "The first round of the initiative was a fantastic success. In total 1,170 community groups were awarded £8,000, £10,000 or £12,000, that's a massive £11.7 million being invested into local projects.

"We are already seeing some great results from groups transforming their own environmental and green space areas.."

Tesco is working with environmental charity Groundwork to administer the funds.

Groundwork chief executive Graham Duxbury said: "Bags of Help is giving our communities both the funding and the support to create better, healthier and greener places for everyone to enjoy.

"We've been thrilled to see the diversity of projects that have applied for funding, ranging from outdoor classrooms, sports facilities, community gardens, play areas and everything in-between.

"We're looking forward to learning the results of the customer vote and then supporting each group to bring their project to life."

This month marks the first anniversary of the new law which required large supermarkets to charge 5p for plastic shopping bags.

All proceeds from the levy at Tesco stores has gone towards Bags of Help, which has so far raised £12.5 million for good causes.

The scheme has already raised millions for good causes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This is the second round of the initiative – the first round saw about eight million shoppers vote in stores up and down the country earlier this year.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust’s project at Whitcliffe

Whitcliffe Common is one of Ludlow's favourite recreational sites, where people can walk along the river and enjoy the wonderful views.

But a lack of funding has meant essential maintenance has not been carried out.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust is looking for funding to help ensure the area continues to be safe, welcoming and a great experience for visitors.

The trust wants to invest money in an ongoing management plan for each tree at Whitcliffe to ensure they are properly cared for. The group also intends to plant further native plant species, as well as clearing and repairing footpaths. In addition to this, the money will allow for equipment such as binoculars and sweep nets to be bought for the Wildlife Watch sessions for children.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the Friends of Whitcliffe Common have created a very successful working partnership that will ensure the site will flourish through this project.

Improvements to the Wilson Terrace play area in Presteigne

Presteigne and Norton Town Council is looking for funding to improve the play area at Wilson Terrace.

The council wants to install a climbing frame designed for children aged 18 months to six years.

A council spokesman says the frame will improve the physical development and sensory stimulation of the youngsters, providing the thrills of sliding, a chance to

learn how to play with others, a test for motor skills, and helping to improve balance and coordination.

"This outdoor area is a vital part of the community, but it has deteriorated, with a number of items removed and others dwindling," said the spokesman.

"It is in desperate need of rejuvenating. This project will not only help to revitalise the area aesthetically, but will encourage active play and allow for the development and practice of a number of skills for the children who use the climbing frame."

School sunshade at Clee View

The school in Clee View is looking for funding to install a large sunshade to keep children safe for outdoor learning all year round.

Storage for outdoor play equipment is also planned, with a whiteboard also included so that children can be taught outdoors.

Deputy head Ceri Little says: "The project aims to improve the outdoor learning environment for pupils and members of our school community.The money will be used to purchase an outdoor sunshade, improve our gardening area and develop the forest schools area."

The school's grounds are very open, meaning that sun protection is a major concern, and other community groups such as the Brownies will also benefit from the improvements.

"These changes will help to promote physical activity as well improve wellbeing, and children will be able to learn about wildlife and biodiversity around them," the school adds.

Fit 4 Life project

Hafren Junior School in Park Street, Newtown is looking to fund eight outdoor fitness stations of various sizes to be installed around the school campus to encourage exercise. They will be available not just for children, but also parents and the wider community.

The money would also allow for bespoke children's fitness packages to be created.

A survey recently conducted by the healthy schools committee and the school's parents' forum highlighted the limitations of activity within Hafren school's campus. In addition, for nine months of the year, 60 per cent of the school grounds are unavailable to youngsters because the grassed areas have become unsuitable for children. Installing these fitness stations will therefore increase the opportunities for children, parents and members of the community to engage in physical exercise.

Research shows that regular activity can boost self-esteem, and lead to a healthier and lifestyle.

Sensory garden at Borth Family Centre

Borth Family Centre is looking to create a sensory wildlife garden at its base in the north of Ceredigion.

The garden would be open to the whole community to use and benefit from.

Money will be used to improve handrails and fencing, making it safe and secure for children. Access would be changed so the garden can be linked to the family centre without having to cross the car park.

The area behind the centre would be resurfaced as currently it is in poor condition and very uneven due to the surface breaking down, and shaded seating would also be included.

The garden will be landscaped, planted and a vegetable patch installed, attracting wildlife and enhancing biodiversity.

The sensory planting, the opportunity to garden and grow plants will enhance wellbeing, as will the opportunity to spend time in a green tranquil outdoor area.

Play area facelift in Mid Wales

Llanddewi Brefi Hall committee wants to improve the playground at the park it maintains in the village just south of Tregaron.

The committee is seeking funding for new flooring for the play area, which would be made from modern wet-pour materials that would not discolour or be affected by algae or wet weather.

The money will also be used to improve and repair other areas of the park that have become worn out.

The committee will be asking residents and parents what other ways the park could be improved, as the scope for additional activities to be run in the park for children.

This play area is at the heart of the community, and is a vital place where children, young people and families come together to meet, socialise and get active.

Improving the play area floor will revitalise the area, and people will not have to travel to another park three miles away.

Teaching space at the Wrekin

Shropshire Wildlife Trust is seeking funding to create an enchanting and comfortable space for young people at the Dairy Pits, within the shadows of the Wrekin.

The trust wants to create a place where it can teach and undertake forest school activities with school groups, youth groups and after school clubs. The space can also be used by adult community and volunteering groups.

Log benches, a fire pit and enchanted woodland trail are among the items the money would be spent on.

The trust says the project will see physical improvement of an open space, transforming an unusable site into a useful and needed outdoor activity space.

Furthermore it will promote physical activity, as school and youth groups can enjoy and learn in the outdoors. Finally, the site will help to improve wellbeing, as children can get away from the classroom environment and have the freedom of playing outdoors.

Wetland habitat at Severn Valley Country Park

Severn Valley Country Park Supporters Group maintains, creates and improves wildlife habitats and educational opportunities at Severn Valley Country Park, providing a varied, safe, quality environment for all site users, especially young and disabled.

The group is looking for funding to enhance the wetland habitat by creating deeper pools, islands and a fringing reed bed with channels to allow better visibility of birds from the hide.

The pond dipping platform would be replaced with a long lasting and sustainable alternative and the old wooden sign replaced.

The improvements will allow easier access for visitors and community groups to a range of habitats. It will encourage visitors to take part in exercise using the upgraded paths and participate in Nordic Walking classes.

The project will improve habitats so that a wider range of wildlife is encouraged to develop.

Children’s area at Severn Hospice

Severn Hospice is looking to spend the money creating a children's play area in the grounds of its site at Apley Castle, Telford.

The hospice gives specialist care and support free of charge to families across Shropshire and Mid Wales who are living with an incurable illness.

The money will be used to install a safety play surface, play equipment suitable for a range of ages from four to 11, and allow for the soil to be prepared for planting.

It will also buy plants for hedging and low maintenance borders made up of shrubs and flowering plants that are attractive to wildlife. The play area will offer a place of normality for families at what can be uncertain times, and provides somewhere for the children to run around and exercise while allowing adults precious time together.

Parents and grandparents who are ill may often benefit from watching the children enjoy themselves playing.

Rare breed of sheep at nature reserves

Shropshire Wildlife Trust is looking for funding to buy and manage a rare-breed flock of sheep to live in Earl's and Pontesford Hill Nature Reserve.

The funding will also help to buy additional equipment, including hurdles, water bowl, stock trailer and nuts.

The Friends of Pontesford Hill and Shropshire Wildlife Trust joined together with the community to raise funds to buy Pontesfield Hill, near Pontesbury, in 2014, saving the site from development. Parts of the reserve have been overrun with scrubland which can have negative effects on both the heritage of the site and the wildlife, while also it difficult for the public to get to parts of it.

The sheep are the most effective and suitable way of actively controlling scrub that over time has encroached on the open space. Through this project, areas that are currently inaccessible on the nature reserve will be opened up, creating more walking routes and places to explore.

Multi-gym plans for Royal Shrewsbury Hospital

Health chiefs are looking for funding to build an outdoor toning multi-gym at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital which will be accessible to the public and staff.

SaTH is looking to find ways to encourage healthy and active lifestyles.

Having free and accessible outdoor facilities would help engage the community on the importance of health and physical activity.

It will be a huge benefit to the community and to visitors to the hospital, encouraging people to spend time outdoors.

It will also provide an additional outdoor recreational space for staff who work at the hospital.

Julia Clarke, director of corporate governance at the trust, said: "Feedback from our staff survey shows staff will like more recreational outdoor areas at the hospital. We would like to develop an outdoor gym, but not only for our staff but one that can be enjoyed by our patients, visitors and everyone in the local community."

Sensory garden at St Mary’s CE Primary and Nursery School

St Mary's CE Primary and Nursery School in Shawbury is a small rural school which is seeking to create a sensory garden.

The area will encourage outdoor activity for both children and adults of all ages, in both the school and local community.

It aims to provide a space for shared learning and to stimulate ideas.

The pupils and community will come together to plan the garden, which will offer a variety of plants, grasses and habitats, as well as quiet areas and seating.

Other ideas for the space include a vegetable patch, which will teach children about the cultivation of vegetables, flowers and shrubs. It will also be used to grow vegetables for the school kitchen which will encourage healthy eating.

The school will invite other local nurseries and senior citizens to use the garden, and continue to work with a gardening club which is willing to support the project and work with children.