VILLAGES in the Ryedale area of North Yorkshire are being offered cash for environmental projects.

Jo Reilly, the district council's community projects officer, said an environmental action fund had been set up with £15,000 to allocate to a range of schemes, but so far only £4,500 has been used.

Among the schemes benefiting are Ampleforth Millennium Group, which is creating a village green and area for toddlers, a conservation area in Norton, and a wildlife area in Ebberston.