Langdyke Countryside Trust – Trustee Profile
The Langdyke Countryside Trust, established in 1999, is a community-based charity focused on conserving and enhancing the natural environment and heritage in the area between Peterborough and Stamford. The Trust manages nine nature reserves, including Swaddywell Pit, Torpel Manor Field, Bainton Heath, Etton Maxey Pits, and Etton High Meadow, aiming to restore habitats and promote biodiversity. With around 240 household memberships, the Trust engages the local community through volunteer opportunities, educational events, and initiatives like the Community Nature Reserve, which encourages individuals to manage parts of their gardens for wildlife. The Trust’s vision includes creating interconnected habitats, supporting sustainable farming, and fostering accessible green spaces for public enjoyment. Langdyke continues to play a key role in the wider landscape projects of the John Clare Countryside.
The Role of the Trustee
The Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, governed by the Charities Commission. It must at all times work in the public interest and within the terms of its charitable intent.
Trustees have independent control over, and legal responsibility for, the trust’s management and administration. They play a very important role, unpaid, in an organisation that contributes significantly to the character and wellbeing of the area in which the trust works.
The ultimate responsibility for this and for the Trust’s management of its finances, risk and health and safety lies with the Trustees.
Trustees have a legal duty to
- Act in the trust’s best interest by ensure that they deal with any conflicts of interest
- Manage the trust’s resources responsibly through implementing appropriate financial controls and through managing risks, and
- Act with reasonable care and skill by, for example taking appropriate (professional) advice when required.
Trustees are expected to ensure that the Trust
- delivers on its objectives, particularly its focus on helping nature recovery and engaging people and communities in its work
- manages its finances and governance well
- complies with all legal and regulatory requirements
- protects the well-being of its volunteers through ensuring that all health and safety obligations are met
- ensure that the Trust remains an organisation trusted and admired by its members, local communities and key stakeholders for the difference it makes and the integrity with which it works.
The Trust has ambitious plans to grow its membership and to increase its landholdings, both as an individual organisation but also in partnership with others, working under the umbrella of the John Clare Countryside Partnership.
Trustees are expected to share this vision of a nature rich countryside and use their skills and knowledge to help in its realisation. They are expected to play a dynamic leadership role in the delivery of an ambitious and exciting series of projects designed to double nature locally.
Time Commitment
Trustees are expected to attend four Management Board meetings each year and the annual meeting. They should also have time to familiarise themselves with the work of the Trust by visiting its reserves and joining one of the functional committees that report to the Board.
Committees:
- Finance and Governance
- Nature Reserves and Conservation
- People and Communities
- John Clare Countryside Partnership (separate body)
Financial Risk
Because Langdyke Countryside Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, trustees are not at personal financial risk to meet the financial liabilities of the trust. Langdyke is fully insured, (including covering any legal costs for trustees, arising out of their duties). It operates a strong health and safety policy (recently audited by the NFU), and is financially strong.
Skills required
The management board would welcome all applications to become a trustee. We want Trustees to be passionate about our agenda, and to have enquiring minds. A strong sense of ambition for the natural environment is important, but so is a grounding in practicality and the importance of good governance and strong structures.
We are particularly interested in strengthening our experience and knowledge of
- Health and Safety best practice
- Health and wellbeing programmes
- Community engagement and cohesion
- Government policy towards nature restoration and environmental stewardship schemes
- Heritage and local history
If you are interested in becoming a trustee please contact the Trust chair Richard Astle by emailing chair@langdyke.org.uk
Further information regarding the role and duties of a Charity Trustee can be found from the Charity Commission website, ‘The essential trustee: what you need to know, what you need to do.