It is my honour to launch the Landscape Trust's Growing Our Reserves appeal by saying a little bit about how we got here and why we are now making this appeal for your help.

In early 2018, the Trust purchased eight acres of land alongside the River Keer at Warton Mires, as a partner in an ambitious project led by our friends at the RSPB. (We'll be telling you more about that project later.) Shortly afterwards, and completely out of the blue, we were offered the chance to buy two additional fields alongside our existing reserves of Coldwell Parrock and Coldwell Meadow.

Such a purchase would enable us to link up these two reserves, not only with each other but also with neighbouring RSPB reserve land. Realising that this was an opportunity not to be missed, we acted quickly to secure sufficient interest-free loans from a number of our members to go ahead with the purchase. Our trustees signed contracts in May.

Now that we have the land, we need to repay our loans, plan for the management of the new reserves and make a start on putting those plans into action. All of this requires resources. We estimate that the total combined cost to us of our Warton Mires and Coldwell projects will be £230,000. So far we have already raised £130,000 taking us more than half way to our goal. But we still need another £100,000. And this is where we are hoping you come in.

Please give what you can to this appeal. If you are not able to make a donation, there are other ways in which you can assist the work of the Trust - just read on! In the sections and pages that follow, you will find lots more information, not only about this latest appeal but also about the Trust itself, the work we do, and the various ways in which you can help us with it. We already have more that a thousand members and we really appreciate their support and loyalty. If you are not amongst our number, then why not join us today?