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Earth Trust Annual Review Championing Accessible Green Spaces Where All the Living World Thrives 2

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Earth Trust Annual Review Championing Accessible Green Spaces Where All the Living World Thrives 2 PagesPages A4 -B-5 2017 - 2018 Earth Trust Annual Review Championing accessible green spaces where all the living world thrives 2 Contents 3 An introduction from Jayne Manley, Chief Executive 4-7 A snapshot of our achievements 8-11 Earth Trust in action 12-13 The Future: Our new strategy for 2018-23 14-15 Income & Expenditure 16 With thanks to... Our Vision To be a champion for accessible We are proud to have been awarded: green spaces where the living world thrives and where people develop a deep understanding of their environment and their role in caring for it PagesPages A4 3-B-5 An introduction from Dr Jayne Manley CEO of Earth Trust At the centre of Earth Trust’s mission and vision is Throughout our 35 years, access to the natural world and environmental education the core value that access have been fundamental. Our strategy over the last five years established the Earth Trust and our reputation to significantly engage people with their green spaces. to natural green spaces is During 2017/18 we redefined our focus and launched our new five year Strategic Plan. vital for people We are delighted to be able to share our vision with you on page 12. Jayne Manley - Chief Executive Our green spaces deliver important public benefits and provide popular recreational places for people from near and far - Wittenham Clumps and the surrounding Earth Trust Farm receive between 150,000 and 200,000 visits per year. But the world is changing and the challenges we face are enormous: we are experiencing greater interest than ever before and the prediction is, that with more homes and businesses planned within South Oxfordshire, visitor numbers will continue to increase. Earth Trust needs to manage this properly and minimise the impact on local roads, local communities and the farm, its heritage and biodiversity, whilst also welcoming people to enjoy this special place. At our current main location we are unable to engage directly and consistently with our visitors. It is this need which is driving our major gateway project to make improvements at the Earth Trust Centre (more on page 13). Securing financial support for all that we urgently need to do is a challenge, particularly funding for the vital core work that ultimately provides a myriad of public benefits; issues include not enough unrestricted funding, and our green spaces being considered ‘common land’ where access is a right not a gift. The next five years will address these so that we will be a greater force for change whilst establishing a financially sustainable footing. The Earth Trust is poised ready for the transformational change needed – we will aim to improve people’s lives and the quality of their environment. We can’t do this on our own and we are looking for people who can help us: advocates, people who can provide or unlock funding, volunteers who can dedicate time - people like you who already have an interest and passion, people who can see the bigger picture and are keen to be part of our future. 64 Our achievements 1 in a snapshot 1 Engaging the public 2 Demonstrating sustainable land and woodland management 3 Generating vital income to support our work 4 Improving our communications with our supporters PagesPages A4 5-B-5 Engaging the public Over 150,000 people benefit from accessing our green spaces each year. In 2017/18 we also welcomed over 15,000 attendees who benefited from one of our sessions or events designed to ensure that we offer all ages a wide range of opportunities from exploring our farm to learning new skills and becoming more knowledgeable: Over people8,000 attended festivals held on the farm themed 300children and adults took part in educational 1,200people attended our holiday and weekend around seasonal activities, such as lambing. courses and walks throughout the year. drop-in sessions. Almost 2,500pupils attended our Earth School environmental education 1,350children, ranging from tots to under 12s, people attended2,000 Earth Trust community sessions programme, learning outside about the countryside, the web came to explorer birthday parties. such as Oxfordshire Play Association play days. of life and the choices that we make. Over students60 took part in our unique Countryside Skills course. The Impact More aware and confident children More school leavers with improved attainment and recognised skills and qualifications More young people with skills and work experience better equipped for employment Improved awareness of farming, food and the natural environment More people and families enjoying the outdoors for leisure and recreation 6 2 Demonstrating sustainable farm The Impact Provision of much needed green space in a county undergoing significant urban and woodland management development We are a working and economically viable mixed farm, with arable land, grassland, and a significant area of woodland. Improved mental and physical health and Our farming model demonstrates production of food in harmony with nature as well as delivering other unprecedented well-being for visitors having access to societal benefits such as public access. Income from our farm enterprise is used to fund our charity objectives. green space • We manage 99ha of wildflower meadows which provide a critical habitat for beneficial insects and other wildlife. Improved biodiversity Meadows provide important ecosystem functions: improved soil health and erosion prevention, improved water quality, and food for livestock. Demonstrating environmentally and economically sustainable farming • We welcomed Meadow Plant Nursery to our Farm Step programme, which gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to rent farmland at an affordable rate, be part of our network and develop their business. We also worked with an existing Farm Step business, Norton & Yarrow Cheese, to help them with the installation of a new creamery facility. • We appointed a specialist agronomy company to provide advice around improving soil and plant health, and reducing inputs of inorganic fertilisers and pesticides. This year saw the use of cover crops to improve soil condition, targeted applications of fertiliser using information on crop status provided by satellite photography, and the use of companion planting to help improve yields whilst minimising inputs. • Our woodland work saw thinning operations in Paradise Wood as well as ride side and understorey coppicing in Little Wittenham Wood. This included felling work alongside our great crested newt ponds to increase light levels into the ponds and benefit the local amphibian populations. • We led on a landowner liaison project which used the successful River of Life project as a demonstration site to encourage farmers along the Thames to consider similar work. This identified a number of landowners who are keen to see wetland habitat works take place and draft plans have been drawn up. At our community reserves: • Wallingford Castle Meadows was awarded Green Flag status for the 10th consecutive year and Green Heritage status for the 4th consecutive year. • Trees along two sections of the stream at Abbey Fishponds were pollarded to let in more light and encourage the growth of understorey vegetation which is vital habitat for water voles. In 2018, 16 water vole burrows were recorded. • At Mowbray Fields willow was coppiced to open up the habitat for important wildflowers, resulting in common spotted, southern marsh and pyramidal orchids blooming there. PagesPages A4 7-B-5 3 Generating vital income to support our work Earth Trust is proudly proactive when it comes to raising valuable funds to support our charitable objectives: caring for accessible green spaces and delivering high impact education and engagement programmes. • We received the support of 11 charitable trusts, resulting in donations totalling £197,668 to support our charitable objectives. • 25 wedding couples chose this stunning location and our beautiful 19th century Fison Barn for their big day. As well as guests enjoying our countryside location the barn hire also provides vital income to support our charitable aims. • We relaunched our Friends Scheme (which generates over £10,000pa to support Earth Trust’s work) and produced the first issue of an exclusive Friends newsletter in January 2018. • Donors who wished to commemorate a loved one had more opportunities to do so, through planting trees and dedicating a memorial bench at Thrupp Lake and on the Earth Trust Farm. 4 Improving our communications with our supporters • In March 2018 we launched our new website, providing a stronger platform for us to engage with people. It includes new functionality such as online event booking and donations, providing our supporters with a better service, as well as enabling us to work more time efficiently and cost-effectively. • We are fully compliant with the new data protection regulations. Over 2,000 supporters actively opted-in to our marketing communications and this number continues to grow. • In 2017 we introduced a contact database, a secure way to hold data and information and ensure that we give the best service to our loyal supporters. This database is enabling more efficient administrative processes. • Our social media expanded to 3,477 Facebook followers and 2,655 Twitter followers, providing a cost-effective way to keep in touch with visitors and supporters. 8 Earth Trust in action Educating our most vulnerable young people What we do: A unique and vital part of our successful Earth School programme is our Countryside Skills course. Accredited by the Open College Network (OCN), this course is designed specifically for disadvantaged children aged 13-19, including those with special educational needs and those who struggle in the traditional classroom setting. Over 60 students attended our Countryside Skills programme weekly, getting involved in a wide range of activities from animal husbandry to growing vegetables and coppicing woodland. Impact Countryside Skills is transformative: enriching students’ well-being and their self-esteem under an accredited qualification.
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