Why does the National Trust want to sell this land?

 You can see the National Trust’s official statement by the SW Regional Director, Rebecca Burton, here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/parke/features/bonds-meadow-legacy.

The land developer has offered a large amount of money to the National Trust, we believe in the region of £300,000, although the Trust will not confirm. The main argument is that money is needed for work on the Parke Estate – which was also bequeathed in Major Hole’s will.  It was stipulated in the Major’s will that any monies raised from the Parke Estate had to be used to fund the Parke Estate.   

What are the objections to this argument?

The world, like the land at Bonds Meadow, is very different now to what it was in 1974.   Major Hole could have no way of knowing about the ecologically vulnerable world we live in now, and the severe impact of climate change when he bequeathed this land.

Furthermore, we believe the National Trust gains an annual income of over £100,000 from Dartmoor National Park for the use of the Parke Estate as their HQ, car parking charges as well as rental from a popular café and other tenants.  This income has not been hugely impacted by the global pandemic.  Despite several requests, we have been unable to acquire details of expenditure from the Trust regarding maintenance of the Parke Estate, for confirmation that all previous income from Parke has been directed appropriately.   Simply put, we do not believe you should rob Peter, to pay Paul.

There is more ecologically diverse wildlife per acre in the woodland at Bonds Meadow than there is in the Parke Estate.

Parke is busy and full of lots of people which is good for the economy, leisure and tourism but sometimes this is at the expense of the environment when visitor numbers are not well manged; Bonds Meadow is full of lots of diverse wildlife and trees - it is a sanctuary.  

We would like to work with the National Trust to ensure that any necessary work for Parke could proceed without the need to sell an ecologically rich and diverse piece of local land.  We’re good at campaigning and organising – we would be happy to help them set up a ‘Friends of Parke’.

The National Trust says they “tried to engage with the local community” but the bid fell significantly short?  Is that true?

This is where the Save Bonds Meadow Group has to rebuke the Trust’s statement in the strongest possible terms. 

The Trust has only ever responded to a handful of residents who reached out for information, and support.  There is no evidence of community engagement from Town Council minutes and notes, nor any press statements or local mailings.   A local resident set up a Facebook page in 2016 to keep other residents up to date with developments, as there was never any tangible or useful engagement from the Trust.  For a long time, somewhat naively, the group believed the National Trust wanted to work with them to secure the future of the land.   There is an evidenced timeline and email threads that will be presented in due course to the appropriate authorities to prove that due process was not carried out, and that out of the blue and in the midst of the pandemic, the National Trust offered the group 3 weeks to place a bid for the land, or it would be sold to the highest bidder.

Is the National Trust obliged to sell to the highest bidder?

The National Trust is not obliged to sell this land at all.  It has owned this land for 50 years.   In addition, according to the laws of the Charity Commission, it can sell the land “for less than best price” to those whose objectives and aims are closely aligned to the Charity’s purpose.

As a group who wishes to preserve the woodland at Bonds Meadow, giving equal access to all and forever, we believe we are extremely closely aligned to the stated objectives of the National Trust, certainly more so than a housing developer.

What now?

 Although fully aware of the mammoth task of taking on a multi million pound organisation from our quiet corner of England, we believe in doing the right thing.  We are building an extremely strong case and are optimistic of success.

We value your support – thank you.