Recent News

The slab was laid last December and the containers with the log cabin arrived 12 Jan and the Estonian carpenters started immediately. After 1 week the walls were up and after the second week the roof was on  We were lucky to have such good weather all through January and into February. We now have the first fixers in along with the Estonians and the building is really coming to life.

 

The pictures were taken on consecutive weekends and show the progress.

The above picture shows, from the left, Peter Jackson one of the Trustees of HNC, Estonian's Jaanus Aumets, Aivar Lilo, Indrek Raja and Andi Paabut along with John Rudd of the New Forest Log Cabin Company.

 

We are looking for volunteers to work at the centre, and if anyone is interested they should contact Hazel Jackson on 01985 213781 or e mail hazel.mcphee@blueyonder.co.uk.

 

All donations will be most welcome.

Earlier News

At last!

As of 31st October, the builders have started work in preparation for the log cabin, which should arrive in January 2006.

The Trustees are busy clearing the site ready for the delivery of animals next year.

Arthur Ransom, Mayor of Trowbridge, trustees and supporters

The Trustees are pleased to advise that they have been offered further time to present information to the District Council and indeed have already been able to do this.

Further consultation with WWDC is under way and details are being refined as necessary.

The Trustees are also delighted to announce that a substantial grant has been awarded by the Rural Enterprise Fund (subject to the granting of the lease); therefore our total funding will enable us to complete the Centre as planned.

In response to West Wiltshire District Council's recent decision to withdraw their offer of land at Southwick County Park, the Trustees of Hope Nature Centre have issued the following:

The Trustees are appalled to learn of the withdrawal of the conditional offer of land in Southwick Park. We understand this was a decision made at an informal cabinet meeting of the Council. The Trustees received no prior warning that the matter was under discussion.

Despite comments in the local press, our Business Plan has been endorsed by Business Link West Wiltshire and has resulted in finance being offered by two leading banks in addition to other funds and grants already obtained by Hope Nature Centre.

The Centre expects to provide useful occupation for up to 40 young adults with learning disabilities through the tearoom, shop, animal park and greenhouses in the Country Park, which will greatly enhance the facilities in the park.

The Trustees continue to be in negotiation with officers and councilors of WWDC.

A friend of Hope Nature Centre recently organised a cycle ride along the Kennet & Avon Canal and raised the sum of £1400.

We have now secured further funding towards the amount we need to be able to commence building.

With this money, we are in a position to submit our application for building regulations and, subject to fulfilling a number of conditions, to obtain our lease from the West Wiltshire District Council.

If we can achieve this during June 2004, we hope that we can begin construction in the late summer, to enable us to open at the end of this year.

We still urgently require working capital. If you can help in any way, please click on Become a Friend or Business Sponsorship.

The Trustees are delighted to announce that they have recently received confirmation that Hope Nature Centre has been awarded a grant of £10,000 by GWR FM's Community Trust.

The funds are to be used to purchase our greenhouses and equipment as part of this exciting project.

We have previously obtained substantial grants from the Garfield Weston Trust and the William "Doc" Couch Trust and we are awaiting news of further funding - due to be received on 21st May.

Once this is available, we will be very close to our target required to enable us to purchase our building and start construction of our project.

From The Wiltshire Times, Friday January 23 2004.

Fundraisers hoping to build a £260,000 nature reserve in Trowbridge are stepping up their campaign to turn their dream into reality.

Volunteers behind the Hope Nature Centre project, earmarked for empty land at Southwick Conty Park, are halfway towards their fundraising target, but still need another £130,000 to get wheels in motion.

Planning permission has already been granted for a visitor centre and nature trail, which will provide a workplace for up to 40 adults with learning difficulties.

Project leader June Fleming said if everyone in Trowbridge donated £1 they would be even closer to their target.

She said: "What we really want is for the people of Trowbridge and Wiltshire to look at this project in a different light.

"I don't think people realise the lack of facilities there are for adults with learning difficulties.

"There is a big void with plenty of services for the profoundly handicapped, but nothing for those in between. This centre will give them dignity as well as a place to work. At the moment they are the forgotten few."

Trowbridge primary schools are backing the centre while inmates at Erlestoke Prison are making a specially designed rabbit village to go in the finished centre. A miniature railway, putting green, play area, shop and tea-room are included in early plans.

An auction of promises was held at Southwick Baptist Church before Christmas raising £1,800.

Organisers hope the next wave of fundraising events might bring them closer to their goal.

Mrs Fleming said: "We are asking members of the public to hold coffee mornings, children to bake cakes, anything to raise money. This project is my baby and has been important to me from the beginning. The number of people coming up to me and asking how things are going is unbelievable."

Up to 15 acres of land have been secured for the project.

If Trowbridge Town Football Club moves onto Southwick County Park, Mrs Fleming believes it could help rejuvenate the area.

"If the club moves there it could bring in more business. This is a chance to develop the whole park," she said.

"It could revolutionise Trowbridge and give the community something to get excited about."