Hello to all the many supporters of Rodborough Fields Preservation Group. We are nearly there and are making a call for further donations in response to a generous donor who has pledged to match every pound you give in response to this appeal, doubling the impact of any further donations.
This will enable us to bring Rodborough Fields into managed community ownership, to preserve the historic area for public access, to maintain and improve biodiversity and to provide educational opportunities.
Following acceptance of our offer of £200,000 to buy Lot 1 we have been busily fundraising towards a target of £220,000 to cover the purchase and associated costs.
The community have come together with great determination and spirit and we have had donations from local residents and as far afield as the USA. Individual donations have ranged from £5 to £10,000 and are helping to get us towards our target.
We are delighted to now be in a position to instruct solicitors and proceed with the purchase. Donations totalling £180,000 are already in the bank, and a temporary bridging loan is covering the remaining balance until we can raise the outstanding funds.
The final piece of the jigsaw which will help us to do this fell into place this week, with a very kind offer from The Laura Kinsella Foundation to match-fund up to £20,000 in whatever public donations we can raise as part of this appeal. The Foundation has pledged to match every pound you give, doubling the impact of your donation. If we raise a further £20,000 from individual donations by 10th August, the Foundation will match the same amount to help us to be in a position to complete the purchase without needing to take up a loan.
As a result, we are today launching a renewed call for donations. We are asking you all to dig deep, to spread the word as widely as you can and to help us to raise the £20,000 that will help bring this important species-rich riverside meadow and woodland into community ownership.
Thanks so much to those who have already donated, and supported us in other ways. If you are in a position to add to this, thank you. If you haven’t donated, please consider joining us now, to protect this important natural resource. You can make a donation on our website https://rodboroughfields.org.uk or by taking a cheque to Stroud Valleys Project shop, 8 Threadneedle Street, Stroud, GL5 1AF.
