Funding is at the core of the work of the Downlands Trust and is obtained from membership subscriptions, corporate sponsorship, donations, legacies, and grants awarded by a variety of external organisations.
Corporate Sponsorship
Since its foundation in 2008, the Trust has been very fortunate to have received corporate sponsorship or donations from a number of organisations, including Legal & General, ASDA and Waitrose. Some of the donations have been for specific tasks or specific sites, others were to be used more generally in accordance with our Articles of Association.
Since 2019 we have received generous support from Fidelity International, based in Kingswood. This has enabled us to fund a wide range of conservation activities, particularly benefitting the Downlands Partnership with whom we enjoy a close working relationship.
We are also delighted to have received many donations, both large and small, from individuals.
Since 2019 we have received generous support from Fidelity International, based in Kingswood. This has enabled us to fund a wide range of conservation activities, particularly benefitting the Downlands Partnership with whom we enjoy a close working relationship.
We are also delighted to have received many donations, both large and small, from individuals.
Grant Applications by the Trust
As a charitable trust, the Downlands Trust is able to apply for a number of grants that are not available to non-charitable organisations, including the Downlands Partnership which is hosted by Surrey County Council. This has included an award of over £23,800 from the Veolia Environmental Trust to develop the Downlands Partnership’s conservation grazing programme on Hutchinson’s Bank nature reserve. This funded the creation of additional livestock enclosures and the provision of a much-needed water supply to the site.
Most recently, the Trust has successfully bid for grants from the City of London's "Enjoying Green Spaces and the Natural Environment" fund, enabling the Downlands Partnership to carry out essential conservation work on the City Commons, including Riddlesdown and Farthing Downs.
Most recently, the Trust has successfully bid for grants from the City of London's "Enjoying Green Spaces and the Natural Environment" fund, enabling the Downlands Partnership to carry out essential conservation work on the City Commons, including Riddlesdown and Farthing Downs.
Match Funding
Supported by guaranteed match-funding from the Downlands Trust, the Downlands Partnership has successfully obtained further significant funding, including:
- A £33,800 SITA grant for local pond restoration work, including ponds at Banstead Woods, Farleigh Common and Chipstead Cricket Club, for which the Trust contributed 12.5%.
- An additional £31,175 SITA grant for a Small Blue Butterfly project to improve and create habitats to encourage a revival in their numbers, for which the Trust contributed 11.5%.
- A £224,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant for a ‘Skills for the Future’ programme saw the Downlands Partnership, in partnership with the Lower Mole and Surrey Heathland partnerships, provide training and experience for 3 countryside management trainees per year for 4 years - for which the Trust contributed £6,000 spread over the 4 year period of the programme.
Plant Sales
The Downlands Partnership operates a plant nursery at Old Lodge Farm (Carshalton) that propagates plants of chalk grassland, many rare. These plants are offered for sale to the public at events and are also purchased by local conservation organisations. The proceeds are donated to the Trust, for which we are very grateful.
The Downlands Partnership operates a plant nursery at Old Lodge Farm (Carshalton) that propagates plants of chalk grassland, many rare. These plants are offered for sale to the public at events and are also purchased by local conservation organisations. The proceeds are donated to the Trust, for which we are very grateful.
Legacies
In 2024 the Trust received a generous legacy that secured its financial future. This means that we can fund
projects that are more ambitious than was previously possible with commensurate benefits for the local countryside.
In 2024 the Trust received a generous legacy that secured its financial future. This means that we can fund
projects that are more ambitious than was previously possible with commensurate benefits for the local countryside.