Page 5 - Annual Report 2014/15

Chief Executive’s Report

In 2014 we celebrated 10 years as a trust committed to the sustainable management of open space and
four years as an independent charity. This provided an opportunity to refect on our success to date,
including acquiring suitable funding for the long term management of more than 50 public open spaces,
many of which were previously derelict industrial sites.

In June 2014, in the prestigious surroundings We know our sites make valuable contributions enabled more than 60 people to attend our
of the House of Commons, we also launched to their local communities and they continue to Green Angels environmental education training
our Strategy for the next 10 years. It was receive local and national awards. It was courses at Liverpool Festival Gardens, with
excellent to reaffrm the support of our particularly pleasing that Silverdale in more planned in 2015. Importantly, more than
stakeholders and an opportunity to promote Staffordshire was awarded SBI (Site of 15 people have since found employment,
our aims to a wider audience. Biological Importance) status (page 9). one of which with us, as the programme’s
Community Engagement Offcer and others
Over the year, we have substantially increased moving onto further education (page 13). We
the delivery of our charitable objectives on our This year, over 44,000 are in discussion with funders about extending
existing sites to beneft local communities. We this successful project across other sites.
have also developed new relationships with people have taken part
strategic landholders and developers who in organised activities This year we launched an integrated fundraising
are seeing the impact of economic recovery campaign to raise money for a new classroom
to progress schemes which will provide even on our sites, an 8% at Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park. The
more opportunities for us in the future. We combination of grant applications, local
acquired 211 ha this year on seven sites, increase on last year. fundraising and corporate support gave us
including Oliver Road Lagoons, an invertebrate an opportunity to not only raise funds but also
rich 40 ha former power station site in Thurrock awareness with key stakeholders and partners,
(page 9 and 20). Two further sites transferred Over 7,500 of these which will continue in the coming year. Further
immediately post year end, including our frst were school visits and details of our fundraising activity can be found
from a utility company and a number of further on page 18 and 19.
site acquisitions were very close to completion, 9,500 were organised
including our frst in Scotland. health activities. Over the year, we have seen a signifcant
rise in interest around our sustainable land
After many years of work, I was delighted that management model and a resultant increase in
we were able to offcially open three new sites. It is important that people value the parks and the opportunities that we are working on. This
Following our remodelling of the former landfll spaces that we create, so I am delighted that has led to the appointment of new business
site at Bromborough, Port Sunlight River Park, we have continued to see an increase in visitor development and support roles within the
with its stunning views of the historic Liverpool participation at events. This year, over 44,000 organisation. In addition, the increasing number
waterfront, was opened to the public in July 2014 people took part in organised activities on our of sites under management means that over
by local MP Alison McGovern (page 11). sites, an 8% increase on last year. Over 7,500 of the coming year, we will enhance the portfolio
Canvey Wick Nature Reserve, already a these were with school visits and 9,500 were on management team to ensure our sites and
nationally recognised site for invertebrate organised health activities. We saw a reduction the delivery of our charitable objectives remain
species, was opened by naturalist, writer and in the number of ‘other community activities’, at our heart. We remain mindful of the need
TV presenter Steve Backshall in September however this is due to better recording in the to balance the expenditure on staff with the
2014 (page 8). Finally, the Countess of Chester other categories. We have beneftted from the delivery of our charitable aims and will ensure
Country Park, adjoining the hospital, was kindly fantastic contribution from volunteers who, that we have the right structure and resources
opened by The Duchess of Cornwall (Countess this year donated over 8,000 days to our sites, for the future.
of Chester) and has since been rewarded with up by more than 50% from the previous year. We have a substantial number of opportunities
The Chester Civic Trust Award and shortlisted for For more information on the delivery of our
many others (page 10). These sites are already charitable objectives see page 7. in the pipeline, extending to over 10,000 ha
across the country and a committed team of
making a valuable contribution to the health
and wellbeing of local communities and to the As well as measuring the improvement staff, volunteers and managing partners who
are responsible for delivering our achievements.
natural environment. in our charitable impacts across our sites
(health, education, environment, economy We look forward with confdence to even greater
We have made signifcant progress on many and community cohesion), we have also achievements in 2015/16. Thank you.
of our other sites. The 110 ha Wellesley commissioned some research into the social
Woodlands, as part of our partnership with return on investment. Put simply, the benefts
Grainger plc in Aldershot, is nearing completion our sites bring to local people, local economies
and the new community areas will be opened and local communities.
to the public later in 2015 (page 15). Our
involvement in this SANGS (Site of Alternative Successful fundraising has further enhanced
Natural Green Space) has resulted in several our sites. £118,000 from the English Woodland
other enquiries from similar projects in the area. Grant Scheme enabled signifcant capital Euan Hall
improvements across fve sites. Big Lottery
Fund’s ‘Reaching Communities’ programme Chief Executive

Annual Report / the Land Trust 2015 5