FAQ
What happens to my money if the campaign is unsuccessful?
It is the policy of the Upper Ouse Conservation Trust to refund all donations less a minimal proportionate amount of expenditure properly incurred (such as PayPal fees,) in the event that the Trust cannot complete the purchase of Townend Field from the vendors.
What organisations have been approached for grants?
Too many to mention! The vast majority of organisations do not provide grants to help communities purchase land, but if we are successful in owning the land, then we anticipate being eligible for several different grants to support our aims. That is why we NEED everyone to donate generously, to make sure that this campaign is successful!
Will dogs be allowed on the reserve?
This will be a policy decided by the members with advice from conservation experts. It is however likely that dogs will be allowed to accompany their owners on the footpaths on short leads. This would probably be reviewed from time to time dependent on wildlife nesting seasons, weather etc.
Would the school be able to build a classroom on their field?
No. The land isn’t being gifted to the school, as this would mean gifting it to the council which would then be out of the trust’s control. We would draw up a lease agreement with the school for the use of an agreed section as a school playing field. This lease would include a clause ensuring that no building work whatsoever would be allowed on the field. Mr Oswald (headteacher) is in agreement with this and does not anticipate a situation where it would be needed for a classroom – they just desperately need the outdoor space!
What is a permissive footpath?
A footpath which has been outlined by the land owners (hopefully UOCT!) giving permission for people to use it. One of our aims is to enable access into the land as a nature reserve, but allows us the flexibility to reroute this if needed (for example if there are rare nesting birds along the path.)
