The National Trust has become the official owner of Flatford Wildlife Garden near East Bergholt in Suffolk, pledging to "maintain the spirit" of the reserve and saying there will be "some small changes".
Ownership changed hands officially on Tuesday. The RSPB had said in October that it would have to sell or lease the land because of financial pressures, and the transfer to the National Trust was announced in April. The acquisition also includes land next to the gardens and was made possible after the National Trust received support and funding from local groups.
The garden sits next to the River Stour, close to a National Trust site in the heart of Constable Country. It was left to the RSPB by sisters Sylvia and Margaret Richardson about 15 years ago and has been managed by the charity since 2011. It has a pond, a living willow tunnel and an insect and bee "hotel", a trail with carved wooden garden creatures, and there are activity days and talks for children and adults.
Adam Rowlands, the RSPB's Suffolk area manager, said: "We are confident that their ambitions for the site align with our own ethos of how we wanted to see Flatford Wildlife Garden looked after under new ownership." He added: "We know the National Trust will continue to maintain the garden for both wildlife and people, and we are incredibly pleased it will reopen to the public next year under their care."
Leigh Freeman, a National Trust area manager, said the purchase had been "quite a long time in the making" for both parties and would help secure the future of the reserve. "The RSPB had a look at its assets last year and I think it felt more aligned that we would look after it in the future," he said.
He said the garden had previously opened only in the summer, and that the Trust would spend the winter preparing it for visitors in the spring, "early March or certainly before Easter".
"There will be some small changes but we intend to maintain the spirit of the wildlife garden, that is something we are very committed to," Freeman said. "We're also really committed to connecting it with the wider site at Flatford and providing better access."
He said the first year of ownership would be spent learning more about the garden and how it "integrates with the site and people connect with it".
Analysis
Why This Matters
- A wildlife garden that had been facing sale or closure stays in public use, with a conservation charity rather than a private buyer taking it on.
- The site will open beyond its previous summer-only pattern, giving visitors a longer season from next year.
- It ties the garden more closely to the adjoining National Trust land at Flatford, which the Trust says should improve access.
Background
Flatford Wildlife Garden lies in the area around East Bergholt known as Constable Country, beside the River Stour. It was left to the RSPB by two sisters, Sylvia and Margaret Richardson, as a legacy for nature, and the bird conservation charity has run it since 2011. The National Trust is a conservation charity that looks after historic buildings, gardens and landscapes. The RSPB announced in October that financial pressures meant it would have to sell or lease the land, and the National Trust was confirmed as the new owner the following April.
Key Perspectives
Adam Rowlands, RSPB Suffolk area manager: said the RSPB is confident the National Trust's ambitions for the site align with its own ethos for how the garden should be looked after, and that it is pleased the garden will reopen to the public next year under the Trust's care.
Leigh Freeman, National Trust area manager: said the purchase had been a long time in the making for both sides, that there will be some small changes but the Trust is committed to maintaining the spirit of the wildlife garden, and that it wants to connect the garden with the wider Flatford site and provide better access.
What to Watch
- The reopening, which Freeman indicated would come in early March or certainly before Easter.
- How the Trust's first year of ownership shapes the garden, which he said would be spent learning how the site integrates and how people connect with it.
- Whether the extended opening season, beyond the garden's previous summer-only pattern, is confirmed as preparations finish over the winter.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe National Trust has become the official owner of Flatford Wildlife Garden.BBC News: “The National Trust is now the official owner of Flatford Wildlife Garden”
- SupportedThe National Trust vowed to “maintain the spirit” of the garden.BBC News: ““There will be some small changes but we intend to maintain the spirit of the wildlife garden, that is something we are very committed to,” added Freeman.”
- SupportedThe National Trust said there would be “some small changes”.BBC News: ““There will be some small changes but we intend to maintain the spirit of the wildlife garden, that is something we are very committed to,” added Freeman.”
- SupportedThe RSPB handed the garden to the National Trust.BBC News: “on Tuesday, ownership of the garden officially changed hands.”
- SupportedThe RSPB said the garden would reopen to the public next year.BBC News: ““We know the National Trust will continue to maintain the garden for both wildlife and people, and we are incredibly pleased it will reopen to the public next year under their care.””
- SupportedAdam Rowlands said the National Trust’s ambitions aligned with the RSPB’s ethos for the garden under new ownership.BBC News: “RSPB Suffolk area manager Adam Rowlands said: “We are confident that their ambitions for the site align with our own ethos of how we wanted to see Flatford Wildlife Garden looked after under new ownership.””
- SupportedOwnership officially changed hands on Tuesday.BBC News: “It was announced in April that the site would be taken on by the National Trust and, on Tuesday, ownership of the garden officially changed hands.”
- SupportedThe RSPB said in October that financial pressures meant it would have to sell or lease the land.BBC News: “The future of Flatford Wildlife Garden, near East Bergholt in Suffolk, was thrown into doubt in October when the RSPB said it would have to sell or lease the land due to financial pressures.”
- SupportedThe National Trust takeover was announced in April.BBC News: “It was announced in April that the site would be taken on by the National Trust”
- SupportedThe acquisition included land next to the gardens and was made possible with support and funding from local groups.BBC News: “The acquisition, which also includes land next to the gardens, was made possible after the National Trust, a conservation charity that cares for historic buildings, gardens and landscapes, received support and funding from local groups.”
- SupportedThe garden was left to the RSPB by Sylvia and Margaret Richardson about 15 years ago.BBC News: “a legacy left to the RSPB by Sylvia and Margaret Richardson about 15 years ago”
- SupportedLeigh Freeman said the first year of ownership would be spent learning how the garden integrates with the site and how people connect with it.BBC News: “Freeman said the first year of ownership would be spent learning more about the garden and how it “integrates with the site and people connect with it”.”
