1983
Woods are still being cleared for agriculture.
April
Pontburn Wood (271 acres) is first purchase in County Durham. David Bellamy features in a radio interview at the wood with John James.
May
Raising over £60,000, Brian Redhead’s second radio appeal breaks all records. Lord Lichfield – photographer and tree lover – agrees to become a Patron. Staff (now 15) outing to Aversley Wood.
July
Newsletter 11 includes an article on the effects of intensive farming.
Hurst Wood in Kent and Glovers Wood in Surrey among 23 new woods.
1984
NCC publish “Nature Conservation Review” highlighting cultural values as the main purpose for nature conservation. Loopholes in the Wildlife and Countryside Act result in NCC having to compensate Fountain Forestry over Creag Meagaidh SSSI in Scotland.
February
Tim Hill joins as Regional Officer for the North and later Diana MacMullen and Beverley Trowbridge cover the East and West. The appeal for Duncliffe Wood, in the Blackmoor Vale receives national coverage as a result of Sunday Times travel writer Brian Jackman’s interest.
March
Balmacaan Woods, near Loch Ness in Highland, is the first site acquired in Scotland and an appeal is launched to raise £200,000 to protect other threatened woods north of the border.
June
Julian Purvis joins as Accountant. Julian stayed with the Trust (later as Financial Director and Deputy Chief Executive) until 2011.
November
R H Trafford (Exeter Solicitor) becomes a Trustee.
Management Committee discuss the possibility of expanding into Northern Ireland but decide not to proceed.
New woods include Duncliffe in Dorset and Ashenbank in Kent.
1985
The Forestry Commission publishes “Broadleaves in Britain” signalling a significant policy shift towards native trees and ancient, semi-natural woods.
January
“Good Housekeeping” magazine nominates the Trust as its charity of the year.
July
Administration is moved to new offices at Autumn Park (an industrial estate in Grantham).
August
A development officer for Scotland is appointed and a small office opened in Edinburgh.
October
The Trust changes legal status to a charitable company limited by guarantee. John James is Company Secretary and Executive Director.
December
Trust is offered the gift of a Gruman light aircraft providing it arranges sale and subsequent delivery to the new owners.
New woods include Milltown and Lantyan Woods (Cornwall), America Wood (Isle of Wight), Bins Wood (Hampshire) and Martinshaw Wood (Leicestershire).
1986
Nicolas Ridley becomes Secretary of State for the Environment. NCC makes uplands forestry an issue. Oliver Rackham’s “The History of the Countryside” published.
April
Minister of State for the Environment William Waldegrave opens new Trust offices. Objectors protest about plans to locate Nirex nuclear waste facility nearby.
May
Don Waddams and Bill Wright become Trustees. Substantial legacy received on condition money used for seats in woods. Together with Common Ground, the Trust commissions sculptors to create seats as public art.
Picture Credit: WT
October
Tyrells Wood in Norfolk saved from felling.
For the first time the Trust acquires on average a wood a week.
1987
The year of the Hurricane. In October the worst storm for 300 years rages across the south and east of England. Supporters pledge almost £400,000 to help the Trust restore its woods.
February
Jerry Langford appointed Regional Officer for Wales.
July
Julian Purvis becomes Financial Director.
October
The Development Corporation in Tyne and Wear give woods in James Steel Park to the Trust.
National Development Programme celebrates 10 years. £1,000,000 annual acquisition target met; 50,000 members.
External Events
Woods were still being cleared for agriculture. The Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) had already warned that all ancient woods outside nature reserves would disappear by the year 2000 and in 1984 published its “Nature Conservation Review” highlighting “cultural values” as the main purpose for nature conservation. Loopholes in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 resulted in the NCC receiving large compensation claims from forestry organisations limiting its ability to spend funds elsewhere. In 1985 the Forestry Commission published “Broadleaves in Britain” marking a significant policy shift towards native trees and ancient semi-natural woods. Nicholas Ridley became Secretary of State for the Environment in 1986. The NCC made upland forestry an issue. Oliver Rackham published “The History of the Countryside” in 1986. The Great Storm, the worst in 300 years, damages 15 million trees in the south of England in October 1987.
Governance and Organisation
After Henry Hurrell’s death the Trustees decided to add to their number. Dick Trafford, an Exeter Solicitor joined in 1984. Don Waddams, a retired Finance Director from KW’s old company and Bill Wright, who had recently retired from the National Trust, both joined in 1986. The approach continued to be one of personal introduction and a “probationary period” on the Management Committee before being appointed a Trustee. It was decided not to expand into Northern Ireland but a small development office in Edinburgh was opened and Regional Officers in Scotland and Wales appointed. Julian Purvis joined the staff as Accountant and managed the move to Autumn Park, large modern offices on the edge of Grantham. The organisation was growing rapidly to meet the demands of regional development and an increasing membership. Elizabeth Hamilton was appointed Deputy Director in 1983.
Promotions and Fundraising
The Trust began to expand into direct mail marketing, using new computer technology to contact specific supporters. This gave us a considerable advantage over other fundraising organisations who were still using mainframe computers. Brian Redhead’s second radio appeal broke all records raising over £60,000. In spite of the apparently constant threat of government cuts alternative sources of funds always seemed to become available and membership continued to grow. Almost £500,000 had been raised in less than a year to buy Wormley Wood and nearby Hoddesdonpark Wood in Hertfordshire. The Trust received a substantial legacy for the purpose of providing seats in our woods and the “Country Seats” project was launched in association with the environmental charity Common Ground to commission sculptors to create interesting but practical “resting places” in woods.
Picture Credit: WT
Conservation and Woodland Management
By the end of 1985 the basic regional structure was in place. Officers worked from home under Elizabeth Hamilton’s direction. This expansion had the desired effect of increasing the number of acquisitions (a new wood every two weeks). Joydens Wood, our first in a London Borough, was due to be opened by Colin Moynihan, the Minister for Sport on 16th October 1987 – which turned out to be the day of the Great Storm. Although 15 million trees were damaged in a line from Bristol to the Wash the event produced a “windfall” of almost £400,000 in additional support for the Trust and raised awareness of trees generally. A total of 41 Trust woods across 12 counties were significantly damaged and numerous other woods suffered minor damage. Emergency work was undertaken in days and within three weeks all the affected woods had been visited by Trust staff, voluntary wardens or contractors and an estimate of the cost involved in restoration prepared. The sale of products produced from just two trees raised over £50,000. Also in 1987 the Trust accepted the gift of 17 woods in James Steel Park, Tyne and Wear, the first of many resulting from the winding up of New Town Development Corporations.
Achievements
At the end of 15 years the Trust had almost 50,000 members, had raised £7million for woodland purchase (£1million in 1987) and planted 50,000 trees. Support for regional development and a growing membership meant that increasing levels of staff were accommodated in new offices at Autumn Park.
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