Information on Loughborough

Garendon Park

Posted on 30/04/2008
A. Johnson

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The GARENDON PARK & COUNTRYSIDE PROTECTION GROUP has confirmed, ahead of the public consultation by Charnwood Borough Council of its awaited Core Strategy document, the Group’s intention to acquire the entire remaining Garendon Estate land, to the West of Loughborough, to secure it for future generations.

Garendon Park is one of the most sensitive locations of Loughborough due to it being an ancient religious settlement open countryside and deer park. It is recognised in the national register of Historic Parks and Gardens. It is the last green space between Loughborough, Hathern and Shepshed.

The purchase would be possible through the formation of a Community Land Trust.

The main hurdles to this becoming a reality are the willingness of the present owners to sell and the funding to make it happen. The initial outlay will need to be raised by a combination of grants, loans and share ownership.

There are many examples in other parts of the UK of heritage landscapes and farming land being acquired by Trusts on behalf of the local community, to preserve good agricultural land and wildlife corridors. It is part of a trend to ensure sustainable long-term access to neighbourhood green space, reconnect urban populations with farming and the land and reverse trends in species decline in the landscape.

If the purchase proceeds, the existing Estate land rights of way would be maintained and enhanced. The listed park would be a conserved public amenity managed similarly to Bradgate Park, with public recreation zones but conservation areas retained for the benefit of wildlife and natural habitat.

The Group has stressed that it is not trying to pre-empt the local authority process to review options for development but contribute to the consultative debate (scheduled for later this year) in a timely and constructive manner. “People will hopefully welcome a fresh perspective of an alternative long-term future for the Garendon Estate and how it might relate to the separate communities of Loughborough, Hathern and Shepshed as well as the local region.”

Further Information:

1. GARENDON PARK & COUNTRYSIDE PROTECTION GROUP was formed in 1989 by local people from the local communities and it continues to be lead by Mrs Lynda Needham and has the current written support of over 850 people.

2. The Group Committee meets monthly at the Glenmore Centre in Shepshed and holds public and fundraising meetings on a regular basis.

3. A public meeting will be announced once the Core Strategy Options timescale is confirmed.

4. The Group will also have a fundraising stand at the Oaks Country Fair on Monday 26 May at Oaks in Charnwood.