Nature & Climate
Within the Nature & Climate Theme we encouraged applications that supported individuals and communities to take action for nature and the climate.
Read here about what people have to say about a couple of the projects that have received support from The Summerfield Charitable Trust.
A £1m investment to help Gloucestershire communities protect green spaces for future generations
“We are enormously grateful to The Summerfield Charitable Trust for making this possible. We know there are people across Gloucestershire who desperately want to protect woodland or wildlife site in their community, but when that land comes up for sale, they simply don’t have the time or resources to compete with a private buyer.
“This funding means we can help them when it really matters. We can provide money to act quickly, bring in the legal and ecological expertise they need.
“We need an initiative like this now more than ever. Once an important green space is lost, it can be lost for good. This gives us a practical way to protect more of those places, connect habitats across the county and make sure communities that currently have the least access to nature aren’t left behind.
“The real legacy will be land that it is still supporting wildlife and being enjoyed and cared for by local people many years from now.”
Dian Hill, OBE DL , Chair of the Gloucestershire Nature + Climate Fund
The Heavens Valley
The grant from The Summerfield Charitable Trust has been truly transformative for the Heavens Valley CBS.
After detailed negotiations, it became clear that our vision aligned closely with the ethos of the Trust. Their support has enabled us to repay the two generous individuals who stepped in with bridging loans to secure the land. As part of those loans, a ‘charge’ was held over part of the land as security. Thanks to the grant, that charge has now been released, and the entire 102 acres of Thrupp Farm — including the much-loved Heavens Valley — is permanently secured for the community.
Importantly, the grant is also helping us plan for the future. We can now employ two part-time staff: one dedicated to community engagement, and another working with our land management team to coordinate conservation activities and volunteer working parties.
It also opens the door to essential projects, including developing a plan for conservation grazing, securing the perimeter of the site, undertaking tree safety work, and commissioning ecological surveys so that we can better understand and care for the rich natural environment we now steward.
We are deeply grateful to the Summerfield Charitable Trust. Their grant has enabled us to move from being a campaign group to becoming a strong, lasting community organisation, ready to care for this special place for generations to come.
Rob Green, Heavens Valley CBS
For more details of What We Have Funded click on the button to the right.