Nature charity announces expansion plans

The Earth Trust's volunteers help with everything from hedge laying to tackling invasive species

A nature charity has announced plans to expand its visitor offerings with a new café and play area.

The Earth Trust, which owns and manages 500 hectares of land in Oxfordshire, hopes the move will get more people out into the countryside.

It also plans to install a new car park and access road to ease congestion in nearby Little Wittenham.

The new facilities should be open by next summer.

The Earth Trust plans to add a cafe and playground to its existing facilities

Chief executive Ian Barrett said: "We know that getting people here is great for their health and wellbeing.

"It takes people on that journey of falling in love with nature and taking action for the natural environment.

"Oxfordshire's got a massively growing population, so there are more and more people who would benefit from that."

Among the Trust's land are the Wittenham Clumps, Little Wittenham Wood and Broad Arboretum.

They are open to the public and welcome 200,000 visitors annually.

The Trust has nearly 300 active volunteers, who manage the land, help at events and get involved in the education offering.

It also runs a Young Volunteers Programme for 13-18-year-olds.

Long-term volunteer Terry Hurley says volunteers are essential to the Trust

Terry Hurley, a long-term volunteer at the Trust and now a trustee, said: "Earth Trust could not survive without volunteers.

"They get their hands dirty, they can see things growing and they can really start to enjoy seeing the benefits of it."

The Earth Trust also takes part in an annual rose-giving ceremony, a tradition dating back to 1970.

Officials from Oxfordshire County Council present the charity with a rose as a symbolic gesture to allow public access to its land.

The Earth Trust was founded in 1967 as the Northmoor Trust for Countryside Conservation.

It acquired Little Wittenham Wood in 1982, adding to it with the Wittenham Clumps two years later.