Earth Trust

Founded in 1967, Earth Trust, is a non-for-profit organization which was originally known as the Northmoor Trust for Countryside Conservation,^[1] Earth Trust 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.^[2]

Earth Trust is based in Little Wittenham, Earth Trust currently manages a 300-hectare (750 acre) estate, which includes Wittenham Clumps, a conservation farm, and Little Wittenham Nature Reserve, an area of woodland dedicated to forestry research.^[3]

Beginning in the early 1990s, Earth Trust focused on strengthening their education, research, and agricultural programs^[4] and were pioneers in developing schemes for the realization of the impact of agricultural practices on the environment.^[5]

In 2006, Earth Trust completed a move to volunteer-constructed, environmentally friendly offices at Hill Farm and opened a landscape evolution centre, Earth Trust Centre.

In 2009, Earth Trust came into a management position of Thrupp Lake, located in Radley. A wetland site, it is one of England’s bird sites^[6]

Earth Trust sponsors many environmental awareness events to encourage eco-friendly lifestyles. The Children's food festival, launched in 2009, is one of their best known.

Earth Trust is currently a congregation of 30 members, 100 regular volunteers, and 750 regular supporters.

Properties

Little Wittenham

Round Hill at Wittenham Clumps.

• Earth Trust Centre - This is the location of The Nature Reserve and Wittenham Clumps, which is open to visitors free of charge 365 days a year. Dogs are allowed on the premises as long as certain requirements are met.

• Wittenham Clumps - Wittenham Clumps is actually two locations, Castle Hill and Round Hill. The two hilltops are known to be the two oldest planted hilltop beeches in England, dating back over 300 years. It is also known by several names such as Birkshire Bubs due to the fact that it once was a part of the County of Birkshire. At another point in time, it was also known as Mother Duchess Buttocks. This name refers to a lady of the Dunch family who owned Little Wittenham Manor in the 17th century.

• Little Wittenham Wood - Located in the area of North Wessex Downs, Little Wittenham Downs is one of Earth Trust's most frequently visited sites. The reserve is home to many forms of wildlife for breeding.

• Broad Arboretum - Planted in 1998, the Broad Arboretum features every species of fauna native to Oxfordshire along with recent introductions such as walnut, sycamore and chestnut.

• Neptune Wood - Neptune Wood was made to honor the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. Thousands of oak trees were planted in this area to replace the countless number of trees that were used to build the ships. Specifically, Lord Nelson's flagship was made out of approximately 5,000 oak trees, while the 27-ship fleet had used over 50,000 trees.

• Paradise Wood - Paradise Wood is a national research woodland in England. Paradise Woods consists of around 60,000 hardwood tree species located in the Thames Valley of Oxfordshire. The organization uses this collections of trees for research and to promote conservation.

Wallingford

• Wallingford Castle - Now in ruins, the castle was known to be one of the greatest medieval castles located in England. In 1066, William the Conqueror and his army crossed into the Thames at Wallingford and ordered the building of the castle. Castle Meadows today is home to important wildlife habitats.

• Riverside Meadows - Riverside land located alongside the Thames River in Wallingford. It is considered to be a rare and threatened habitat. Recent actions of restoration have been done to sustain land. Riverside Meadows can be enjoyed during the summer months when the meadows are ablaze with fields of oxeye daisy, common knapweed and bird’s-foot trefoil.

Other

• Mowbray Fields - Earth Trust's local nature reserve in Didcot. It is the home of the common spotted and southern marsh orchids.

• Thrupp Lake - Thrupp Lake, located in the village of Radley, is a man-made lake owned by RWE npower and conserved by Earth Trust.

Earth Trust Events

Earth Trust hosts several events that are used to raise environmental awareness. The events are oriented toward participants of all ages, and are held in different areas that vary from year to year.

See also

• The Poem Tree at Wittenham Clumps, carved by Joseph Tubb.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wittenham Clumps.

• Earth Trust website