Page 14 - Annual Review 2022

The Land Trust Annual Review 2022

Our New Sites

Buckler’ Forest. Image: DDL Photography. Landscape architects: Macgregor Smith Landscape Architecture responsible for the master planning Dawlish Countryside Park, Devon Ridgetop Park, Devon
and design.
Site Specifics Whilst Ridgetop Park is only currently open to visitors on foot or bicycle, Dawlish
Countryside Park has been open a number of years and already attracts over 200
The largest of the Land Trust’s latest acquisitions was a 42-hectare woodland site
Buckler’s Forest, in Crowthorne, Berkshire. Created on the former Transport visitors a day, making it the Land Trust’s most visited acquisition of 2021/22.
Research Laboratory site, Buckler’s Forest not only mitigates the impacts upon
the Thames Basin Heaths SPA (Special Protection Area) but also includes SuDS, Alan Carter, Land Trust Chief Executive, said: “These latest acquisitions bring
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which attenuates 50,000m of surface water during extreme weather events the Land Trust’s SANG portfolio to over 330 hectares across four counties, which
protecting over 1,000 properties from flooding. is a great result for the respective local communities and a credit to our own
internal team, panel solicitors, developers, consultants and local authority
planners.
John Richards, Cala Homes Land and Planning Director, said: “It was great to
work with the team at the Land Trust to handover Buckler’s Forest. The Land Trust
has an excellent reputation for custodianship of green spaces that ensures that “The four new sites provide the Land Trust with an exciting opportunity to work
with new communities and organisations. Green spaces are what bring people
spaces like Buckler’s Forest are managed for the benefit of the public, while
enhancing local biodiversity, for many generations to come. We look forward to together, but it’s vitally important they are well-managed and maintained so they
can continue to thrive and optimise the benefits the local community can enjoy.
working with the organisation again in the future.”
“Our ‘place keeping’ philosophy guides our community engagement to draw
Horsley Meadows transferred to the Trust in 2021 making it the Trust’s fourth
acquisition in Guildford in as many years and bringing the total area of land in the people out of their homes, so they can interact with their neighbours and form
friendships. This gives people a sense of ownership and also helps with
Borough to 76 hectares. With a strong portfolio of SANG in the region, Land Trust
is the largest, non-public body, owner of SANG provided to mitigate impacts upon maintaining sites.
the Thames-Basin Heaths SPA.
“SANGs are brilliant as they actively encourage people to enjoy the big outdoors,
while diverting attention away from local flora and fauna special protection areas.”
Other SANG sites transferred to the Land Trust over the last year include its first
two in Devon, including Dawlish Countryside Park and Ridgetop Park which were
transferred to the Land Trust by Teignbridge District Council. With a combined size
of 47 hectares, these sites give the Trust a notable presence in the South West
and make the Land Trust the largest current owner of SANG in Devon.

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