Hele Valley Trail, Marhamchurch

Aim

Marhamchurch Parish Council is working to secure funds to purchase the Hele Valley Trail and bring it into public ownership.

Update: 

A HUGE thank you to everyone who has donated, shared posts and spread the word. We are thrilled to say that we have now reached our fundraising target. We have now amended our closing date and switched the crowdfunder to 'Always On' which will allow people to continue to donate should they wish. Any surplus funds will be earmarked for future maintenance costs on the site. 

Thank you again so much to everyone for their support. Marhamchurch Parish Council are very grateful.

The Hele Valley Trail (HVT) winds its way through 16 acres of beautiful riverside native heritage woodland and well-established broadleaved woodland on the outskirts of the village of Marhamchurch, adjacent to the tourist town of Bude near the North Cornwall coast.

The Trail is accessible from a small car park and offers unrestricted public access to nature which are currently being enjoyed by many, with all the associated physical and mental health benefits.

It is a well-established open space area which has enjoyed unrestricted permissive access 364 days a year for the last 20 years. However, the land is currently for sale, and when it is sold, there is no guarantee a new landowner would keep the permissive paths open. There has been a history of loss of local paths in similar circumstances in the area.

Marhamchurch Parish Council (MPC) has been working to secure funds to purchase The Hele Valley Trail (HVT). The Parish Council have received an offer (subject to T&Cs) from The Community Ownership Fund, Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government of £152,000 which is 80% of the sale price. Part of the terms of the grant, is that MPC have to match fund the remaining 20% which is £38,000.

If this sum can not be found the once in a generation opportunity to buy the land and the trail will be lost.

If the match funding can be raised it will secure the Hele Valley Trail in perpetuity for local people and visitors to the area to enjoy the access to nature. The Trail can be used for education of local children and work by volunteers can enhance the land for nature and wildlife benefit.

We need to raise £38,000 to provide matched funding against the Community Ownership Fund potential funding in order to purchase the land.

All money raised will support the Parish Council's aim to secure funds to purchase the land, any surplus funding will be used to fund future maintenance on the site.

If the project doesn't go ahead all donations will be returned by Crowdfunder to the donors. Crowdfunder will automatically return the donations in those circumstances.

Marhamchurch Parish Council will not use the funds for any other purpose.

Please support us to secure the land and trail in perpetuity.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made