This land came onto the market a week ago with some of the fields used for grazing and silage and the other lower fields mainly untouched for over 15 years. Large sections of the land for sale would make excellent wildflower meadows with a huge amount of diversity with the right ongoing sympathetic management of the site. Other parts could potentially be good for an orchard, community veg growing, and ponds to help prevent flooding further down valley. Even though the land has only been on the market for a week, there's already been an offer for it, and the vendors want all offers in by the end of the week. If we're successful with buying this land, we will form a Community Benefit Society for the stewardship of this land, with the option for the general public to buy shares for this project and be part of it. We will complete a full botanical survey of this site to help us shape and finalise the plans for the future for this land with a driving force to help protect the wildflower meadows.
Local residents have already pledged over £200k by completing pledge forms for loans and donations following the first 2 public meetings within the first week of the land coming up for sale, demonstrating the support and interest from the community in this project. This crowdfunder was created to try and raise the shortfall in funding to buy this land and get donations from further afield through social media.
This is from Plantlife: "Species-rich grasslands are extraordinary ecosystems, with native wild plants at their heart. Soils bursting with life, fungal networks covering unknown thousands of miles, carbon uptake, flood mitigation, nutrient-rich additive-free grazing, and the inspiration for iconic artists and writers over the centuries – meadows and grasslands are simply magnificent in many more ways than first meets the eye. Yet a staggering 97% of wildflower meadows and 80% of chalk grasslands have been eradicated since the 1940s, now covering less than 1% of UK land. Of the remaining three percent, 75% exist in small fragments, making them especially vulnerable to eradication. This really is a habitat on the brink."
We want to have the best chance to secure this land and aim to secure enough funds and donations to do so. We will also need to cover the various fees including the conveyancing, survey costs, public liability insurance etc. if we're successful.
If our bid to purchase this land is unsuccessful, we will update everyone and have their donations refunded.
Please consider helping us by a donating and sharing this with your friends and family to make this happen🙏💚🍀