What's it all about? Back in 1996, the Government realised we had to try to cut down the amount of rubbish we bury in big holes in the ground.

So it introduced a tax. But the people who dig and fill holes are able to claim back some of this landfill tax in order to make grants to environmental projects. Hanson Aggregates makes more big holes than anyone else in the world, hence it has accumulated a lot of cash to give away.

Who can apply? There are two funding streams - a small grant scheme and the main scheme. The small grant scheme is for any not-for-profit group with a bank account and will support projects developing community amenities such as playgrounds, village greens or disabled access to community buildings (but not car parks, allotments, places of worship or work within school grounds). The scheme will also support wildlife and habitat conservation such as pond construction or wild-flower planting on sites with public access.

To apply you have to be within 10 miles of a Hanson operation - but don't be put off, it has got a lot of them. For the main programme you will also have to be registered as an enrolled environmental body with Entrust, the regulator of the landfill credit scheme. This requires you to prove a few more environmental credentials and if you can you'll be supported to develop parks and other public amenities or create, restore and safeguard areas that promote biodiversity. Once you've decided to apply, guidance notes are available to see if your project fulfils all of the fund's criteria.

How much is available? Small grants are between 250 and 4,000 and, for the main scheme, between 4,000 and 25,000. There is a requirement to provide 10 per cent of matching funding from a third party.

Application process: Application forms are on the web site www.hansonenv fund.org. Small grant applications are considered monthly, while the main scheme applications are reviewed quarterly.