The estimated total to complete the project to purchase the land, make it safe and accessible for walkers and generally maintain it for the coming years is £215,000. We have now reached this figure so fundraising has ended.

We have had very generous grants approved by the Ernst Kleinwort Charitable Foundation, the High Weald National Landscape Partnership, Ansty and Staplefield Parish Council and Cuckfield Parish Council, but most of our funds came from generous local Cuckfield individuals and businesses.

If after we have taken donations for the campaign we fail to complete the purchase, we will provide individuals refunds for amounts of or over £50 if they have included contact details with the donation (i.e. not kept it anonymous to us). For individual amounts less than £50 or where no contact details have been provided we will use the funds for the general aims of the New England Wood Trust.

If we raise more than needed and complete the purchase, the excess will be used for the general purposes of the trust.

i)         We are already set up as a charity. We have 10 trustees including chairman, secretary, treasurer, woodland manager, a couple of trustees with deep conservation knowledge and one with extensive property experience. We have policies and insurance that are appropriate with only minor adjustments.

ii)         We have the manpower, tools and experience from managing New England Wood - though we have taken on some extra help with the fundraising.

iii)         We have strong existing relationships with some significant funding bodies, and individuals, many of which have provided significant funding.

iv)         We have a positive image in the village and people will expect we can improve the area as we have improved New England Wood.

v)         Our purpose is to manage the woods for the benefit of the village and as a nature reserve.

All three groups are aware of and enthusiastic about our plans. 

We aim to manage the new plot in a similar way to New England Wood, e.g.

   i)         The first year we’ll do a lot of surveying.

 ii)         Improve path surfaces and manage surrounding vegetation to improve access.

iii)       Do some safety felling – a preliminary survey shows there’s some fairly immediate need.

iv)       The squirrel damage to the young oaks is severe and there will be a lot of ongoing maintenance.

 v)         Take actions to steer people to some areas and keep them from other more sensitive areas – e.g. the orchids.

vi)       Coppice in some areas.

vii)    Maintain some open spaces and control encroachment of bramble over the grass.

No. The land will be owned by the existing charity, New England Wood Trust, charity1188549. 

Financially you can support us by clicking on the JustGiving link at the top of the Home page. We are particularly keen to receive recurring donations – either monthly or annually as these give us more surety in planning work with many years of costs.

If you would like to join our volunteer group which meets Monday mornings (and Wednesday mornings over the winter) please e-mail cuckfieldwoodlanders@gmail.com