Langdyke’s strategic aims

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Langdyke Countryside Trust: Strategy

The board of Langdyke announced the following strategic aims as part of its five-year plan going forward from 2021.

The Trust will remain a resident and volunteer-led charity, with its roots firmly in the community.

  1. The Trust seeks to at least double its membership in the next five years, building on its inclusive, social and family based approach.  To achieve this the Trust should expand its family friendly activities and raise its profile within the John Clare Countryside area and also in the adjacent urban areas of Peterborough, the Deepings and Stamford.  A high percentage of members should be actively involved in the Trust’s work.
  2. Each of the Trust’s existing reserves will continue to enhance their biodiversity value and their contribution to the John Clare landscape and heritage in line with clear management plans and monitoring regimes. 

Over five years each will

  • demonstrate improvement in key biodiversity outcomes
  • provide enhanced opportunities for both volunteer and public engagement
  • enhance and provide evidence of the Trust’s capabilities to manage land well for nature, heritage and landscape
  1. The Trust seeks to significantly increase the area of land under its direct management, both through acquisition and/or long-term management agreements. Sites will be selected that can deliver the best outcomes for nature recovery and community involvement and engagement; heritage and landscape. They should also provide a balance between public access and land left undisturbed for nature. Any expansion of our landholdings must be within our financial and volunteer capacities allowing us to continue to manage our portfolio well.  Key areas of interest remain
  • Expanding our landholding around Swaddywell Pit, including the former landfill sites at Ailsworth Road and Ben Jonson Pits to create more limestone grassland
  • Building our landholding either side of the Maxey Cut and South Drain to create more wetland and meadows
  • Opportunities arising from the A47 dualling
  1. As part of our work within the John Clare Countryside project and in order to help achieve the goals listed above, the Trust will lead a number of key conservation projects in the wider countryside that best support nature recovery, help engage, advise and inform local communities and build partnerships with other local organisations.  These will include (subject to further discussion and landowner agreement)
    1. Primary schools – Helpston, Barnack, Castor and Northborough (working with PECT)
    2. Burghley Estate – pond and Torpel Way access
    3. Internal drainage board – creation of stretches of wildflower rich banks
    4. Nene Park Trust – M’Ladies Pond, Ailsworth
    5. Private Landowners – Helpston-Glinton Road pony paddocks
  1. The Trust will also look to engage and inspire its members by offering our resources and knowledge to develop (in collaboration with other partners) other projects, particularly those linked to 
    1. The poetry and writings of John Clare
    2. Built heritage and archaeology and social history in the landscape
    3. The creative arts, including through programmes of artistic workshops (drama, poetry, art …)
    4. Photography
    5. Social prescribing for health and well-being
    6. Nature friendly farming/Environmental Land Management Scheme

And through the promotion of local wildlife events and training opportunities.