Seven charities in Farnham have received money from the Harmony Energy Income Trust Farnham Community Fund.

Harmony Energy Income Trust, which runs a battery energy storage system in Farnham, invites community groups within a five-mile radius of its site to apply to the annual fund.

It supports schemes to protect and promote the environment, support a happy and healthy community, and increase biodiversity, all with the vision of powering a more sustainable future for everyone.

The charities and projects are Disability Challengers Farnham Youth; Farnham Assist; Waverley Hoppa Community Transport (growing green community transport); Creative Response Arts; Old Kiln Museum (museum visitors and the arboretum); Farnham Community Farm (solar for a sustainable farm); and Hive Helpers Community Interest Company (pollinator awareness outreach).

Lucie Peralta Agass, Harmony’s head of sustainability, said: “We are delighted to support the local area surrounding our Farnham site with a community fund.

“Our sites play an important role in supporting climate mitigation. However, we also understand the importance of ensuring that local communities around our sites benefit from our activities.

“We were touched to see so many amazing stories about how the funding will help the community prosper during these challenging times.”

Farnham Community Farm, a not-for-profit group supplying people in Farnham and beyond with a share of its pesticide-free vegetable harvest, said: “We’re delighted to have received a grant from Harmony Energy Income Trust which will help make our site more sustainable through solar power.

“We plan to install ground-mounted solar panels on our two-acre market garden. This means we'll be using clean energy to grow our chemical-free and nature-positive veg for the people of Farnham and surrounding areas.

“The panels can also be incorporated into farm tours which we give to visiting schools and community groups - a win-win for the community and the environment.”

Hive Helpers, which seeks to improve the mental and physical health of local adults and children through beekeeping and nature conservation, said: "We will be using the money to provide free pollinator workshops in local primary schools.

“Each workshop lasts about an hour, and we explain that whereas honeybees have beekeepers to look after them, wild bees and other pollinators have to manage on their own.

“We show how pollination works using a felt flower model and have fun activities to show why pollination is so important for food production and why insects are so good at pollinating.

“We hope that we can inspire the next generation to do their bit towards protecting pollinators, plants and the planet.”

Battery energy storage systems are playing an increasingly important role in the United Kingdom’s transition to net zero carbon emissions.

They also support the nation’s goals of enhancing its energy security, reducing its reliance on foreign imports - a problem illustrated by sharply rising prices when war broke out between Russia and Ukraine - and ultimately making energy bills more affordable for all.

A Harmony spokesperson said: “The fund will reopen later this year and we welcome more groups to come forward and apply.”