Page 6 - The Land Trust Annual Review 2021
P. 6

The Land Trust                                                                                      Annual Review 2021

                                                                                                             Chief Executive’s Report




















                                                                                                                                 In the Land Trust’s 2018 Annual Review I wrote that we need a government that
                                                                                                                                 recognises the importance of green infrastructure to create thriving, healthy
                                                                                                                                 communities. I said that we need to decide what society we want our children, and
                                                                                                                                 their children to grow up in. I finished by saying that we had a huge opportunity
                                                                                                                                 to change the future of our country and that it was vital that we didn’t miss it.
                                                                                                                                 These words are as true now as they were when I wrote them three years ago and
                                                                                                                                 the value of parks and green spaces has become even more evident over the last
                                                                                                                                 18 months.
                                                                                                             Euan Hall
                                                                                                                                 The Covid-19 pandemic has been a terrible time for so many people. Thousands of
                                                                                                                                 people have tragically lost their lives in the UK while millions have died across the
                                                                                                                                 world. It has been an incredibly sobering experience for us all as we have sacrificed
                                                                                                                                 so much to try and get through the pandemic and get back to normal.
                                                                                                                                 While there have been so many negatives there have also been positives and people’s
                                                                                                                                 new found appreciation for the natural environment and parks and green spaces has
                                                                                                                                 been one of them.
                                                                                                                                 Although we were unable to deliver our usual programme of activity, just being able
                                                                                                                                 to keep our green spaces open made a huge difference. Working closely with our
                                                                                                                                 dedicated managing partners, and in some cases our volunteer workforce, we were
                                                                                                                                 able to ensure that our sites were maintained to the best possible standards during
                                                                                                                                 this time.

                                                                                                                                 This enabled the communities that live and work around our parks and green spaces
                                                                                                                                 to use them throughout the pandemic which we know was hugely important for their
                                                                                                                                 physical and mental wellbeing.

                                                                                                                                 It is hugely encouraging, and I’m incredibly proud, that the Trust has managed to
                                                                                                                                 navigate the most challenging year in the organisation’s history and come out of it in
                                                                                                                                 a better position. We have brought some beautiful new parks and green spaces into
                                                                                                                                 our ownership and management and have increased our charitable delivery and the
                                                                                                                                 economic and social value created across our portfolio.
                                                                                                                                 With over two million people visiting our sites in 2020-21 we have a fantastic platform
                                                                                                                                 to go on and deliver so much more in the future and continue to play our part in
                                                                                                                                 delivering healthier, happier communities.



                                              6                                                                                                     7
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11