Petersham Trust Newsletters

October 2003

Petersham Meadow is a key element in the famous view of the River Thames from Richmond Hill. The aim of the Petersham Trust is to preserve it intact for posterity.
Please Help

But isn't the view protected by a special Act of Parliament?

Yes it is and that Act has been invaluable in preventing, for example, any risk of building development. But the Act does not provide resources for maintaining the meadow or the trees or the cattle. Farming the land is no longer commercially viable and the owners, Richmond Council, have many other demands on their services. So in 2001 the land was leased to the newly-formed Petersham Trust for it to care for on behalf of the community.

A special issue

The Trust's Newsletters are intended to keep donors and friends informed about the recent developments and plans. This issue has a wider purpose: to tell all local residents and visitors about the aims and work of the Trust and to seek their support.

Progress and Plans

Over the last 18 months the Trust has:

	Tidied the site removing many tons of rubbish.
	Carried out environmental improvements to the River Lane Draw Dock area, the car park area by the Petersham Nursery, the ground on which the River Lane toilets once stood and the area adjacent to Buccleuch Gardens.

Trees

Over the summer the Trust has carried out a long overdue programme of tree maintenance which has greatly improved the Meadow's appearance. This is the first phase of a systematic five-year programme to care for the existing trees, and to replant where appropriate, to enhance the view to and from Richmond Hill.

Gates and Fences

The public footpath now has two new wheelchair-friendly kissing gates to allow access to all for the first time. Fence renewal and replacement continues apace.

Buildings

In April 2003 the Trust obtained planning consent to demolish the delapidated barn and outbuildings. Changes to our lease agreement with Richmond Council were required and these too have now been agreed. The work will begin as soon as the cows go to their winter quarters. After the demolition, work will start on the renovation of the Milking Parlour, an evocative reminder of the 19th century farming methods. More details of the parlour plans will be given in the next newsletter.

National Trust

Over recent months, the Trust has been developing a closer relationship with the National Trust and is greatly benefiting from access the their expertise and guidance

Funding

The Trustees have held long and detailed negotiations with the Heritage Lottery Board, and after considerable thought have decided not to go ahead with their bid for the time being. Any grant that may have been forthcoming would have been accompanied by a number of stipulations and restrictions with which the Trustees and the National Trust might have had difficulty in complying. The Trustees are sure that the funds needed to achieve their objectives can, with strenuous efforts, be found elsewhere and they are actively pursuing various other fund holders whose criteria are consistent with the Trust's aims.

Ha-ha suggestion

The Environment Agency takes a particular interest in the meadow because it is almost the only remaining flood meadow in the tidal reaches of the Thames. They have raised the possibility of replacing the concrete wall between the meadow and the towpath with a ha-ha (a deep ditch). The Trust would welcome comments on this.

Contact

Please send any comments and suggestions to:

Brian Miller, Administrator to the Petersham Trust,
18 Breamwater Gardens, Ham, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 7SQ
Telephone: 020 8255 6628 or 020 8255 7390
Email address: info@petershammeadows.org

Please help us to maintain Petersham Meadow by sending us a donation. All amounts, large or small, will be gratefully received!