When Court Orchard Field, in the centre of Whitchurch Canonicorum, went on the market this spring, The Friends of St Candida decided to look into the possibility of buying it. After several weeks of fundraising and research, we were able to submit a bid, and in mid-May we were delighted to hear that we had been successful. The sellers had chosen our bid from those they received under the formal tender process.
This was very exciting news and a huge relief after a lot of hard work by our trustees and other members of the community. We are hugely grateful to everyone who donated to our appeal or supported us in other ways; the way the local community and our members further afield have engaged with this project has been wonderful.
One of the roles of FoSC is to be a ‘bridge’ between the church and the community, and securing the field will enhance that role.
The Friends will keep the field as managed grassland with intermittent grazing. We have opened a permissive footpath across the field, which everyone is very welcome to use. It runs from the main gate down to the footbridge across the stream onto the church path. Please do not bring dogs into the field.
There is also potential for occasional use by community groups as well as for enhancing some parts of the field with sympathetic environmental projects such as a community orchard and an area for meditation, prayer or pilgrimage.
If you have any questions, please email friends@st-candida.org