Page 4 - The Land Trust Annual Review 2016-17

Chief Executive’s Report

This year I am pleased to report a further significant
increase in the delivery of our charitable objectives

across our sites, in particular an increase in the
delivery of health and community related activities.
It has also been a year where we have been able

to play our part in promoting the value of green
space to society. Euan Hall
Chief Executive

New Sites the Land Trust, were also signed. We the surrounding housing developments.
We acquired a further 178 hectares across look forward to working with the residents Shortly after the end of the financial year,
six sites, including at Omega, the former to not only deliver quality green space our five-year interim management contract
Burtonwood airbase in Warrington, where a management, but to do it in such a way that at the iconic Liverpool Festival Gardens
new park -“Greenheart”- will be constructed enhances biodiversity, education, health came to an end and the management of the
for us by the developers; East Ketley, a activities and community engagement. site was handed back to owners Liverpool
restored former coalfield and landfill in City Council ahead of the wider area’s
Telford; and a significant expansion to Existing Sites redevelopment. It has been a pleasure
our Canvey Wick site in Essex with the After 10 years as our Managing Partner to be involved in the re-creation of the
acquisition of a further 135 hectares of the Forestry Commission relinquished Gardens after they fell into disrepair and to
land to further enhance our existing nature day-to-day management of seven of our have the opportunity to work with the TCV
reserve (page 20). During the year we have South Yorkshire sites to The Conservation rangers and so many committed volunteers.
also ceased the interim management of a Volunteers (TCV). The Forestry Commission, Working together we not only maintained

OVER DELIVERING OPEN

2,300 HECTARES SPACE MANAGEMENT

OF OPEN SPACE TO OVER 1,450 HOMES

small one hectare site for IKEA in London. our partners from the outset, helped us the iconic gardens but delivered amazing
This brings our portfolio under management to develop our Managing Partner model community benefits to over 1,800 school
to 63 sites and 2,319 hectares (including and have supported us, and the local pupils and more than 1,600 people who
the 464ha of Newlands, Revive and communities, delivering numerous events benefited from health activities. In addition,
Remade Programme sites that we manage). and creating valuable habitats. Following a the site has brought together hundreds of
competitive tender process we are looking local volunteers who have, over the last
The year has also seen us add to our forward to working with The Conservation five years, worked tirelessly with support
residential service charge portfolio with the Volunteers to manage Bentley, Brodsworth, from the rangers to maintain the Gardens.
management of the open spaces around Cudworth, Dinnington, Kiveton, New
Countryside’s prestigious development Park Springs and Phoenix Park to At our Cronton site the Trust negotiated an
at Beaulieu, Chelmsford (page 21). The deliver even more community benefit. easement for access to an adjacent housing
development, which currently consists of development for a consideration of £1m.
around 100 homes, will expand to more We also celebrated 10 years of
than 3,000 over the coming years with 176 management at Weetslade Country Park Benefits
acres of parks and open space. At the (page 21). The 38 hectare park, north of We have always recognised that good
beginning of 2017/18 legal agreements for Newcastle, was transformed from a colliery quality, well managed green spaces
the management of the greenspace around and is now a wildlife rich greenspace have a positive effect on communities.
developments at Waverley, Rotherham and popular with cyclists on Old Wagon Way This year we have focused on promoting
New Lubbesthorpe, Leicestershire, a further which runs through the park as part of the the benefits of green spaces for health
250 hectares and the green infrastructure popular Sustrans Reivers Coast to Coast and wellbeing. Encouraging our rangers
around up to 5,000 homes over time to route, and new communities moving into

4 the Land Trust Annual Review 2016/17