Page 15 - Annual Review 2022
P. 15

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
 3
 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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