Page 7 - The Land Trust Annual Review 2021

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.

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