There was great concern that this very visible land at the entrance to the village might be put to inappropriate or insensitive use. Ben Williams, Peter Lee and Jim Findley made an appeal to the Village for funds to buy the land. 70 residents pledged a total of £48,000. Eyhorne Meadow was brought for £22,, using 50% of the amounts pledged. The other piece of land, Cotuams Meadow, was brought by a
Village resident. The Hollingbourne Meadows Trust Ltd was incorporated in November 2004. In may 2005, registered charitable status was granted by the Charity Commission. The objects of the Trust are to regenerate, improve and Maintain Eyhorne Meadow and to:
* Conserve, protect and improve the physical and natural environment of Hollingbourne
* promote natural biodiversity
* promote recreational facilities in the form of nature trails, walkways and footpaths, and in a manner facilitating access by the young, the elderly, the infirm and the disabled. In the first five years of the Trust's life, efforts were concentrated on the regeneration of Eyhorne Meadow. During this period we planted approximately 90 trees with protective fencing, and grazed a succession of livestock, including bullocks and sheep. Fencing has been improved, weeds eradicated or controlled, and kissing gates installed to improve access to the land
In 2010 there was a change in ownership of Grove Mill Estate to the east of the village, and individual fields or parts of fields were offered for sale at auction. The Village was faced with the likelihood of piecemeal ownership of the land, and the possibility of undesirable or inappropriate use. Fencing of individual holdings was likely, restricting access to the land. In the course of 18 months of intense activity by the Trust, it's Directors, Supporters and Friends, and thanks to generous donations from individual vVllagers, from The Hollingbourne Society and many other Village Organisations, from past residents and from friends, and to grants from national organisations, including the Big Lottery Fund, the Trust raised a total of £140.000. We borrowed £10.000 on a short-term loan, and spent £147.000 in buying 15 acres of land. A further 10 acres were brought by supportive residents, who have given the Trust the responsibility for managing their land. These 10 acres are available for the Trust to buy-at a cost of about £80.000, being the price paid by the supporters. If the 10 acres can be brought by the Trust, the whole of the eastern boundary of the Village from the High Speed CTRL to the "old" railway line at Culpeper will be safely held protected from development, and will provide a wildlife haven and walking area for the Village. Raising £80.000 for these purchases is a hugely-challenging medium-term objective of the Trust
The Trust has kept the Grove Mill land available for the Village to walk and enjoy. We have:
* planted trees
* created a flower meadow
* maintained cut grass paths ( which have increased the number of walkers enjoying the meadows )
* commenced cyclical hedge-trimming on a three year cycle. We shall need lots of volunteers help, and we have set up " Ben's Meadows Volunteers " with a growing list of potential helpers. All welcome to help in any way they can. We have outline plans over the longer term, but need to concentrate on the matters in hand, and particularly upon continued fund-raising. although much is given freely by our Directors and by our volunteers, our insurance and other over heads, the regular cutting of the grass pathways, hedge trimming and general maintenance cost in the region of £3.000 a year. Every year, we need to raise that amount, plus some more to provide for the cost of buying the 10 acres which we do not own.
