Community groups and projects across Norfolk are being encouraged to apply for funding through the Tesco Bags of Help initiative.

Grants of between £1,000 and £4,000 are awarded to community groups following voting by Tesco customers.

The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) benefited from the initiative when it secured a £12,000 grant in 2016.

The organisation created a 2km nature trail at its Thetford nature reserve, Nunnery Lakes.

Visitors can learn about the wildlife that lives within the reserve from information boards along the route.

Bonita Johnston, from the BTO, said: “We applied for Bags of Help funding as we wanted to welcome more people to the Nunnery Lakes Reserve and we felt an interactive, user-friendly discovery trail was the ideal way to help visitors get the most out of their surroundings.

“The grant has made a huge difference to us and I would strongly encourage any local organisation working on a community project to look into the Bags of Help scheme as a way of funding their efforts.

“Two years on from the unveiling of the trail, we’re now building on that work by organising community events and fundraising to improve the viewing point for the Kingfishers that nest at Nunnery Lakes, and build a 360-degree observation platform over the river and wetlands.”

For more information ask in store or visit Bags of Help.