SIR Harold Hillier Gardens near Romsey is to benefit from the Climate Change funding scheme.

The award-winning gardens will receive £150,000 for a new seed propagation unit as part of Hampshire County Councils bid to tackle climate change.

The propagation unit is designed to care for plants which are struggling to survive in the environment due to the rise in temperatures.

The Hillier Gardens have also been chosen as a place to support education on climate change.

The funding is part of a larger £1.2 million pilot scheme run by the council and money will be used to switch some of the current council fleet vehicles to eco-friendly biofuel, extending natural habitats in suitable country parks and installing energy efficient technology into public buildings.

The funding was agreed at the County Council’s Cabinet meeting on July 13. It forms part of a commitment to become carbon neutral by 2050.

County council executive lead member for economy, transport and the environment, Cllr Rob Humby said: “Hampshire County Council has set out a clear action plan to tackle the climate emergency and this includes putting carbon reduction at the heart of all we do.

“This package of measures will help us to further drive down carbon emissions across our corporate fleet, make public buildings more energy efficient and help our natural environment to become more resilient to the impacts of rising temperatures.

“Our activities can also play an important role in supporting the growth of the green economy in Hampshire which will be so important as we recover from the impact of Covid-19.

“As part of our commitment to tackling climate change we have already made key investments in electric vehicle infrastructure.”