We are still looking for donations to support our purchase of Bardsey Fields, to cover additional costs such as legal fees.
Donations can be given through our bank, please follow the link above for details.
Your support has been amazing, this is the final push to achieve our goal!
We are delighted to let you know that our fundraising campaign has been a huge success and we raised a phenomenal amount of money in less than 3 weeks, enabling us to acquire Lot 2, totalling almost 24 acres of land in the centre of Bardsey village. The land runs from Bardsey Primary School down to Bardsey beck and beyond.
Unfortunately, however, we only raised sufficient funds to bid on one piece of land and prioritised the lower field, to the front of the school for a number of reasons. Firstly, we understood this to be the plot that we would most likely be successful with. Secondly, it is the plot with the best habitat, and it is the land which is very much in the centre of the community.
We are unable to share how much we bid as this information is confidential, but we can confirm that all donations received were used to secure this land.
We sincerely thank all those who donated to save Bardsey Fields – we couldn’t have done it without you!
If you have made a donation, please ensure you have completed a Gift Aid form, which enables us to claim back 25p for every £1 donated. You will find the form on this website in the Bardsey Fields Campaign, Donate section, or contact us at fundraising@ekwt.org.uk and we will send one to you.
The Trustees
East Keswick Wildlife Trust
Many thanks to Abi from Leeds Salsa Club for organising a salsa dance class in East Keswick Village Hall to raise funds for the Save Bardsey Fields Campaign. Everyone had a great time!
One of our members, Jinny Casey, enjoys painting and offers some of her, and other, work for sale here. They are all original works of art of animals, plants and landscapes and are framed. Each piece is priced at £20.00 and all donations will go to the Trust.
Jinny advises that she could deliver locally and suggests that the donation be put in an envelope for her collection during delivery.
If you are interested, please contact info@ekwt.org.uk
Villagers old and young of East Keswick and the nearby areas turned out in force to view the Wildlife Trust’s newest project: “The Elliker Fields”.
Plans and information where on display and some great feedback was given by the community for future plans. The comment below sums it up:
“The plans look great, it will be a fantastic asset to the village. Would love to see some point of interest for children along the path. Hidden sculptures to clamber on, perhaps from local materials. A picnic area. Hidden tunnels or den making area. Mown paths in the grass. Love the pond dipping plan. All sounds great.”
The Trust has broad plans for both the Elliker Field and the neighbouring wood but are always looking for more ideas so leave your thoughts and feelings below!
After hearing the Trust had signed a legal option to purchase the Elliker Fields, an adjacent landholder who has in the past applied for planning permission for his land has offered us his adjoining woodland and wetland pasture.
With an individual private donation we have been able put down a 10% deposit to sign an option for the purchase of this land, which if we are successful in raising the purchase price will extend the Elliker Fields Nature reserve by a further 2.5 acres. This will add greatly to the diversity of the present area under our management and ownership.
We now have 12 months to raise another £25,000 to make up the shortfall of funds available for this land purchase.
Can we do it again? We hope the community will again support us with our new fund raising project.
We will keep all informed of progress through the Trust website and village publications.
Elliker Field is on the left. The woodland and fen extension to the project are to the right of center.
We have been successful in purchasing this area of land
A big thank you to all the individuals, groups and associations that have supported East Keswick Wildlife Trust in their appeal to raise £25,000 to purchase the Elliker Fields.
We have been overwhelmed by your generosity and support, and you will be pleased to know that the Trust was able to raise the required funds and has completed the purchase of the freehold of Elliker Fields.
The Trust can now ensure that this important field will be safe for future generations to enjoy and will be managed for wildlife and the local community. We will continue to work with the village in developing a management plan for this site and we wish to hear your views. There will be a site meeting on Saturday 2nd of February so please join us. We will meet at 2pm at the entrance to the reserve between 21 and 23 The Paddock. We intend to walk the field, look at the Trust’s proposals and invite comments and ideas from the community. All welcome.
Follow our progress by joining the Trust and getting our biannual newsletter.
East Keswick Wildlife Trust has signed an option to purchase some strategically important land in the heart of our village for our community and future generations to enjoy.
Sadly, even Greenbelt land isn’t completely safe from the threat of development so we want to safeguard this land forever, particularly as it is rich in flora and fauna of a type that is rapidly disappearing from our countryside.
We want everyone to be involved so please come to a public meeting at 7.30pm on Monday 10 September in the Verity Room at the Village Hall and have your say. For further information, please call 01937 574140.