Background
The organisation was established by the British engineer Sir Martin Wood to promote environmental conservation through land management, education, and land science. It is a registered charity under English law. [3]
Its origins were as the Northmoor Trust for Countryside Conservation, founded in 1967. Little Wittenham Wood was acquired in 1982, followed by Wittenham Clumps in 1984, and College Farm in 1993. In 2000, the organisation took on the management of three community meadows: Wallingford Castle Meadows and Riverside Meadows in Wallingford, and Mowbray Fields in Didcot, then additionally Thrupp Lake at Radley in 2009.
In 2010, five hundred acres of farmland adjacent to Little Wittenham Wood and the River Thames were acquired and subsequently transformed into wetlands as the "River of Life" project. This was later followed by a similar project near Dorchester on Thames commenced in 2019.
In 2011, the organisation was rebranded as Earth Trust. [4]
Further management contracts were established for Abbey Fishponds in Abingdon-on-Thames (2014), Tuckmill Meadows (near Shrivenham) and Besselsleigh Wood, both in 2024.
Earth Trust coordinated with Enterprise Oxfordshire to construct the Earth Lab building, which was completed in 2021 and received £1.49m in funding from the UK's Local Growth Fund. [5] and later with the commencement of the "Gateway to Nature" Project. [6]
From 1983 onwards, the group has maintained a volunteer program in a broad range of its activities, including land management, conservation, education, administration, engagement of young people, events and visitor support. This was recognised in 2016 through receipt of the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. [7]
Along with their Farm Step tenants, Earth Trust are one of Oxfordshire's mid-sized producers of legumes, grains and wildflowers, beef, lamb and honey. They have 530 hectares of mixed use farmland and encourages and supports the production, distribution and consumption of healthy and local food.
Earth Trust events
Earth Trust host many events throughout the year. The majority are held at their flagship site in Little Wittenham with a small number taking place on the nearby community nature reserves that the charity manages. [8]
The Children's Food Festival was held in 2007 and in 2009 in Oxfordshire and was fronted by patrons Raymond Blanc and Sophie Grigson. [9] [10] [11] The 2007 event was attended by over 16,000 people. [12] In 2009, the exhibitions included an animation titled "Eat a Rainbow", a photo installation showcasing foods consumed by people across 16 countries titled "What the World Eats", and a 40-foot inflatable pig. [13]
Earth Trust hosts a programme of events each year, including countryside management courses, taster workshops and family festivals. They host their Lambing Weekends in spring, which were attended by over 8,000 people in 2016. [14]
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