Trust vows to 'maintain spirit' of nature reserve

The National Trust has vowed to "maintain the spirit" of a nature reserve while making "some small changes" after saving it from closure.

The future of Flatford Wildlife Garden, near East Bergholt in Suffolk, was thrown into doubt in October when the RSPB said it would have to sell or lease the land due to financial pressures.

It was announced in April that the site would be taken on by the National Trust and, on Tuesday, ownership of the garden officially changed hands.

RSPB Suffolk area manager Adam Rowlands said: "We are confident that their ambitions for the site align with our own ethos of how we wanted to see Flatford Wildlife Garden looked after under new ownership."

He added: "We know the National Trust will continue to maintain the garden for both wildlife and people, and we are incredibly pleased it will reopen to the public next year under their care."

Leigh Freeman, a National Trust area manager, said the purchase had been a "quite a long time in the making" for both parties and would help secure the future of the reserve, a legacy left to the RSPB by Sylvia and Margaret Richardson about 15 years ago.

"The RSPB had a look at its assets last year and I think it felt more aligned that we would look after it in the future," he said.

"It's only been open in the summer in the past, but we will be taking the winter to kind of get it ready for visitors in the spring – early March or certainly before Easter."

The gardens, which have been managed by the RSPB since 2011, boast wildlife and birds, a trail with carved wooden garden creatures and a pond.

There is also a living willow tunnel and an insect and bee "hotel" and there are activity days and talks for children and adults.

The acquisition, which also includes land next to the gardens, was made possible after the National Trust, a conservation charity that cares for historic buildings, gardens and landscapes, received support and funding from local groups.

Freeman said the first year of ownership would be spent learning more about the garden and how it "integrates with the site and people connect with it".

"There will be some small changes but we intend to maintain the spirit of the wildlife garden, that is something we are very committed to," added Freeman.

"We're also really committed to connecting it with the wider site at Flatford and providing better access."

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