Who we are and what we do

We are facing a triple threat of climate change, loss of biodiversity, and a massive public health
crises, made worse for those in disadvantaged communities who have little or no access to
nature. Earth Trust is an environmental charity with 40 years’ experience in inspiring people to
address these crises through the power of natural green spaces.
We believe that we all have a responsibility to care for nature and understand our role within our
ecosystem .Our vision is a society where accessible, engaging green spaces enable nature and
people to thrive in balance. But, for people to understand their environment, their place in it and
their role in caring for it, they must have the opportunity to experience its power and nurture a
deep connection. 

Together with our supporter community, we are guardians of some extremely special and
inspiring places, rich in nature and heritage. We care for 500 hectares of woodland, farmland,
wildflower meadows and wetlands, which receive 200,000 visits a year. We use these amazing
places to engage and inspire people and to demonstrate nature-based solutions that we hope
others will use elsewhere.

Our mission is to champion access and engagement with natural green spaces for
everyone, so that together we take action for people and planet

Demonstrate. Engage. Influence.
We use the places we care for to demonstrate nature based solutions and the power of engaging
people with the natural world, in order to influence for more accessible and better green spaces.

Demonstrate
We care for and improve the spaces we manage and by so doing demonstrate their role in
addressing the climate, ecosystems and health crises facing our world today

 Managing a diverse range and scale of green spaces: We care for diverse
environments – from landscape scale (500ha of S. Oxfordshire’s most iconic green space)
to local green spaces (Nurturing 7 community spaces in Abingdon, Wallingford and Dicot)
– with multiple benefits for people, climate and ecosystems 
 Nature based solutions : Our projects generate new evidence, data and research
partnerships to demonstrate the value of nature based solutions.
 Green space sustainability: We demonstrate green space sustainability where natural
green spaces are accessible and engaging and the infrastructure for people is built into
financial models.

Engage
We engage and inspire people with the environment, empowering us all to make change
happen.

 Skills and training for young people and adults: We use the environment to inspire
learning and discovery - Earth School for primary school pupils, Countryside Skills
experience and qualifications for youth who find the traditional academic environment
challenging and a growing programme of adult courses. 

 Green space experiences, events and activities: We welcome, engage, and inspire
visitors to our accessible green spaces, offering a diverse and lively public programme of
events and activities. We nurture inclusive opportunities for all people to engage with
nature – connecting with a wide range of communities to share learning and reduce
barriers to green spaces access.
 Building a community of volunteers: We foster a community of engaged volunteers
and change-makers (the beating heart of Earth Trust) and support others to nurture
their own volunteer networks  

Influence 
We influence decision makers so that more people can access and engage with green spaces
where they live, work and play.
 Green spaces standards and infrastructure: We advocate and advise on building nature
and green spaces into existing and new development, through our burgeoning network of
collaboration and partnerships 
 Policy and practice for sustainable green space business models – Building nature
in: Using our land, assets and projects, we pilot and demonstrate the building blocks for
improving people’s access to the environment alongside successful nature recovery. We
develop models and partnerships that support us – and others - to sustainably manage green
spaces for the future, exploring new funding and operating models and working towards
carbon neutrality.