 The Fields Between FAUNA and Aldcliffe Road: A Threat or an Opportunity?
 The Threat
We learned in Spring 2010 that the fields between FAUNA and Aldcliffe Road were to be sold at auction (to see a full-size map click the image to the right). Although the fields are currently greenbelt, it will be difficult to hold off development forever unless they are bought by people who are sympathetic to the local environment. If these fields are developed, we will lose a beautiful piece of countryside, and FAUNA will be ringed by housing and so will lose most of the wetland birds and other wildlife which visit it.
The Opportunity
The total area likely to be sold is around 25 acres, and at up to £10,000 per acre we could not raise all the money needed to buy all the fields ourselves. Instead, we have entered into a cooperative arrangement with other local people interested in keeping the fields green. We need to raise at least £100k to buy some of the fields, protect them in perpetuity and add them to FAUNA.
Stop Press: We have recently heard (February 2011) that the auction is likely to be in May/June 2011. We now (March 2011) have the FAUNA lease from the City Council (for 30 years at £1 per year) and have raised the £117,000 needed for creating FAUNA, which will be in place for everyone to enjoy by Christmas 2011. In the meantime we are continuing to raise the money we need to buy as many adjacent fields as we can and so make FAUNA larger and improve its role as a habitat for native flora and fauna. So please support us if you can.
How much have we raised so far?
The thermometer shows the total raised in pledges since we began a quiet word-of-mouth campaign in mid-May 2010. At the latest update (10th May), we have already raised £80,000 in donations and pledges. The mid-section shows an estimated 20% extra to be raised by Gift Aid of a possible 25% which can be reclaimed, as not all donations and pledges may be eligible.
How can you contribute?
You can: -
- make a contribution right away, visit the Donate Now page
- pledge a contribution from yourself or your family
If you are willing to donate money to the Fields Fund, we will ask you to sign a pledge form, which will be available as soon as our legal advisers have approved the wording (as a charity we need to be especially careful to cover all eventualities). You can pledge any amount you can spare – our largest pledge so far is £3,000 from a single family, but of course we are delighted to accept pledges for any amount. To make a pledge please contact Oliver Fulton (01524 381880) or Mick Short (01524 63890) or email fields AT fairfieldassociation DOT org. If you’d like more information before deciding, we can talk it over with you. And if you are a taxpayer and fill in a Gift Aid form, we will receive another 25p from HMRC (Inland Revenue) for every £1 given to the Fairfield Association (see the chart above). HMRC adds “if you pay higher rate tax you can claim extra relief on your donations. If you claim age-related allowances or tax credits, Gift Aid donations can sometimes increase your entitlement.”
- talk to friends and neighbours and encourage them to pledge a contribution or Donate Now
Hundreds of people walk along the canal or the ‘long pads’ footpath every week, or just look out on it from their windows, and we know that everyone loves our open countryside so close to Lancaster town centre. Many people are already looking forward to the opening of FAUNA, planned for spring 2011, and don’t want it spoiled by future development nearby.
take part in our sponsored cross-bay walk on Saturday, May 14th
You can get more details of the sponsored cross-bay walk here.
come to a fundraising event
Events being planned include a garden party, a concert, possibly even a dinner dance – watch this space for details.
join the FAUNA and Fields Five Hundred Club and/or organise your own fund raising event
This could be anything you like, such as getting sponsorship for your own project, or putting on an event, maybe as part of a group, where you charge admission or offer goods for sale. We will help to publicise any local events.
suggest other fundraising ideas to us
Please email fields AT fairfieldassociation DOT org
volunteer to help out in our campaign
Please email fields AT fairfieldassociation DOT org
WE CAN DO THIS IF WE REALLY WANT IT. GET INVOLVED!
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