Here are some examples of how we are involved in saving these very special places.
© National Trust
Morden Hall Park - London
Situated between Wimbledon and Sutton, Morden Hall Park provides a green oasis in the heart of suburbia beside the meandering River Wandle. The park features attractive parkland, meadows, wetlands and waterways to explore by foot or by bike. The park is used by thousands of people each year and the Snuff Mill Environmental Centre brings learning to life for local schools.
In 2007, the community fishing club was set up in response to local demand. We joined with the local community are working together to improve the river habitats and ensure good practice in recreational fishing and respect for the environment. The club has a management committee, comprising local people. They have designated areas within the park where fishing is permitted, and have a team of water bailiffs, who police the river. This has resulted in a reduction in the amount of illegal fishing and poaching. The club also has an adolescent section, promoting responsible fishing to younger people.
The creation of the community Fishing Club has very much kept the river wildlife at its heart. Local people have been actively involved in habitat management and improvement work alongside our staff.
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Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire
Twenty miles from Nottingham city centre, the 1,500 ha Clumber Park includes peaceful woods, open heath and rolling farmland, with a superb serpentine lake at its heart and the longest avenue of lime trees in Europe. The park offers miles of cycling and walking trails, a walled kitchen garden, guided nature walks, over 500 species of Fungi, including some very rare examples,and horse riding. Hundreds of thousands of visitors enjoy the park every year and even so close to major industrial towns and cities it is possible to find peace and quiet at Clumber.
Leigh Woods – Bristol
Leigh Woods, north of Ashton Court in Bristol, is jointly owned by the Trust and the Forestry Commission. Small mountain biking circuits are present in the woods and the area is a popular walking area for Bristolians.
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Darnley Mausoleum - Gravesend
Later this year we will be taking on the ownership and management of the Darnley Mausoleum and the 200 acres of surrounding ancient woodland, near Gravesend. This will allow many communities in North Kent free access to 200 acres of green space.
The Grade I listed building suffered 50 years of neglect, vandalism and abuse, but in 2001 the Cobham Ashenbank Management Scheme (CAMS), made up of various organisations including Gravesham Borough Council, the National Trust, English Heritage, Kent County Council, the Woodland Trust, Cobham Hall School and Channel Tunnel Rail Link, began the task of reclaiming the woodland and restoring the Mausoleum and associated buildings. There followed seven more years of working in partnership, which was realised in September this year when a public open-day gave local residents a chance to see the woodland and Mausoleum restored to their former glory.
When we take over the site we will continue the work started by CAMS to help the local community make the most of this significant green space.
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Wicken Fen - Cambridge
One of Britain's oldest nature reserves, Wicken Fen is a 930 ha nature reserve just north of Cambridge. The last 0.1 per cent of fenland left in Britain, it is part of an ambitious 100 year plan to create a new nature reserve covering around 56 square km between Cambridge and Wicken Fen. Wicken Fen has more than 40,000 visitors per year, and over 6,000 school children come to take part in our formal education programmes, events for families and individuals attract a further 3,500 visitors each year.
Hatfield Forest – Bishop Stortford
The tranquillity of Hatfield Forest, enjoyed by a quarter of a million visitors each year, is under threat thanks to plans to expand Stansted Airport. The forest is a rare surviving example of a medieval hunting forest with over 1,000 acres of woodland. Plans to expand the capacity of Stansted to 16.5 million passengers each year means that the forest will be flown over every 81 seconds.
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