The Land Trust grows its SANG portfolio to 14 sites

In 2023/24, green space management charity, the Land Trust, took on the ownership and management of three new SANG (Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspaces). These new additions bring the Trust’s total SANG portfolio to 14 sites across the South of England spanning nearly 400-hectares.

Oldlands Copse in Surrey, Sunningdale Park in, Berkshire, and Blandford Woods in Hampshire were all created to relieve recreational pressure on the nearby Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area. These green spaces will help the Trust protect and improve the environment, achieve important charitable delivery and social value for the local community. Their acquisition strengthens the Land Trust’s position as the largest private SANG owner in the region.

LSL Partners transferred the 17-hectare Oldlands Copse to Land Trust in September 2023 making it the Trust’s fifth SANG acquisition in the Guildford Borough since 2018. Surrey Wildlife Trust, the Land Trust’s regional managing partner, will manage the site with a focus on the ancient woodland, newly created wildflower meadows and rewilding areas.

Sunningdale Park, the Land Trust’s first site in Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, was transferred to the Land Trust from Berkeley Homes in November 2023. This 19-hectare site benefits from mature features of the Grade II-listed parkland including ornamental shrubs, ancient and veteran trees and most notably a 500-year-old Sweet Chestnut tree.

The site will be managed by managing partners Scofell and Brimstone Nature Conservation Contractors to maintain the newly enhanced meadow grassland, ornamental shrubs and mature woodland and parkland trees.

As part of the re-development of Blandford House and Malta Barracks, Grainger Plc and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) transferred Blandford Woods to the Land Trust in March 2024. This 14-hectare woodland site connects into Wellesley Woodlands the largest SANG in the Country also owned by the Land Trust.

The Land Trust and its managing partner, Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership, will focus on facilitating access, improving the condition of the woodland and conserving species of interest including green hound’s-tongue, which whilst one of the UK’s rarest plants is found in abundance across the site.

Each site is funded by an in-perpetuity endowment paid to the Land Trust by the respective developers which is used to fund the management of the sites and the delivery of the Land Trust’s wider charitable objectives.

Whilst these SANG are primarily provided for recreational use and are outside the scope of mandatory biodiversity net gain, the delivery of the management plans, will deliver significant biodiversity improvements across each site that will be managed in perpetuity.

At Oldlands Copse for example, we predict that the over 80 years between 2024 and 2104, the biodiversity value will improve by 55% through delivery of the site management plan.

Daniel Cavanagh​​​​ LSL Partners Managing Director said: “LSL Partners is excited to have delivered this community asset, which will provide new publicly accessible open space with newly created wildflower meadows, walking trails, a wildlife pond and rewilding areas alongside access to the existing ancient woodland.

“The involvement of the Land Trust ensures the site will be available for generations to come, and their model of delivering environmental, charitable and social value combined with pragmatism and operational experience makes them a partner LSL is proud to work with.”

Joe Heath, the Land Trust’s Head of Environment and Biodiversity, said: “It’s fantastic to take on these new sites after supporting them through the planning process for several years. Each project had its own challenges to overcome, but with 10 years’ experience of working on SANG the Land Trust was able to assist and advise the developers and all issues were resolved.

“Walking around these newly opened sites, you get a feel for how important they will become for the local communities, and we know that the sites are already being well-used and valued. Each site is different and has unique features that visitors can enjoy for years to come.”