Save Blackswarth Road Wood (Crew's Hole)

We lost the auction for Blackswarth Road Wood. The community pledged an incredible £87,000 plus an estimated £11,000 in gift aid. In addition, we had funds available including emergency funds and a loan should we need it, but it wasn’t enough. A final single competing bidder outbid us to £245,000, which is an astonishing amount of money for five acres of woodland that cannot be developed.

On a positive note, we have drawn a huge amount of attention to this amazing habitat and brought together a community of incredible people who were willing to go the extra mile to protect the woodlands we so desperately need. We do not know who the buyer is or what their intentions are, but by shining a light on this place, we have made it very difficult for anyone to damage or try to develop this woodland. It’s our hope that they will care for and protect this habitat for the benefit of nature and the community and we will hold them to account at every turn if they fail to.

Where do we go from here? Crowdfunder have recommended that we don’t refund the money immediately in case the winning bidder fails to complete. We have no interest in holding onto people’s money and will return it at the very earliest opportunity. Every single generous person who has pledged to protect this woodland will have their donation returned as soon as we have confirmed that the purchase is complete, but there is still a slim chance that the sale could defer to our bid.

There are other causes in Bristol worth fighting for too, including the ongoing efforts to protect the last working farm in Bristol, Yew Tree Farm from threats to their existence and the SNCI land they farm, from commercial housing and the extension of the crematorium next door. We have to continue pushing back against reckless development and poor planning decisions to protect what green spaces we have left.