Stop Press [14-11-2012]
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 Nov 2013) to raise another £30,000 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.
Success [14-11-2012]
We have successfully completed the purchase of Elliker Fields;
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 most of 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.
Project
The vision of the trustees and supporters of the EKWT is to purchase several acres of land on the east side of the village in order to connect areas, much of which overlays magnesian limestone, and comprises woodland, wild-flower-rich pastures, marshland, scrub and an old limestone quarry and will create a new nature reserve known as ‘Elliker Fields’.
How?
Help us to raise the purchase price to buy a large field offered to the trust for £30,000 which lies in a key location between land to the north and south already under the management of the Trust. We have signed a legal option to purchase this field and now need to raise the purchase price before the end of October 2012.
Why?
With Leeds City Council’s present housing strategy, all villages north of Leeds, including their greenbelts, are under threat of development. We want to safeguard this land forever. These two fields are particularly rich in flora and fauna of a type that is rapidly disappearing from our countryside.
As part of the biodiversity action plan for Leeds, magnesian limestone grassland such as this has been identified as being of high importance to preserve and manage in an appropriate way to conserve the unique and rich flora and fauna associated with it.
Help us now!
Help us to ensure that this land is saved for future generations and managed in a way to involve the local community and encourage conservation. In order to buy this field, we need to raise £30,000 by the end of October 2012.
Send cheques and donations made out to East Keswick Wildlife Trust to: Greenfields, Whitegate, East Keswick LS 17 9HB. For more details contact fundraising@ekwt.org.uk
What we hope to achieve.
These fields are particularly valuable to wildlife as they lie on Magnesian Limestone. Their purchase will:
- prevent the land being developed
- provide a “wildlife corridor” connecting other reserves that we manage.
- conserve this rich and varied landscape for the enjoyment of future generations
- provide a locally convenient area for community based outdoor activities
See what we have already achieved on our History Timeline.