Charity pays off loans after four years of fundraising

The Richmondshire Landscape Trust was set up in 2003 because of concern about plans by Richmondshire District Council to sell off almost 88 acres of land around Richmond.

Some of the land included an area in Sleegill, facing towards Richmond Castle, the south bank of the river Swale, between the Falls and Mercury Bridge and Westfield, an area to the west of Richmond.

After public consultation the council agreed to sell the land to the trust for £120,000, with ownership passing over in 2007.

In order to meet the payment deadlines the trust had to rely on interest-free loans from supporters, which have now been paid back.

The trust set up the Richmond Open Spaces Appeal, or ROSA, holding community events such as garden parties and Easter egg hunts to raise the money to pay off the loans.

A donation of £5,000 from the charity’s patron, Lady Hale, Britain’s first female Law Lord, who grew up in Richmond and still has a house there, took the charity over it’s target.

Frank Gibbon, chairman of the trust, said: "The generous donation from Lady Hale, and a lot of hard work from all of our supporters, has helped us reach our target.

"We are delighted to have been a part of protecting this land for the people of Richmond and people who come here."

The charity also received many smaller donations from many residents of Richmond, including one from Ray and Nancy Thornton, who asked for donations to the appeal instead of presents for their diamond wedding anniversary in April.

Speaking about her donation, Lady Hale said: "Helping to reach the target is of great personal satisfaction but nothing compared to all the work that the trust has put in over the years."

The trust now plans to restore the sites, which had been neglected over the years, and are looking for a drystone wall expert to help them with repairs.

For more information contact Helga Pearson on 01748 824139.