After fourteen years of caring for Kilkhampton Common, Westland Countryside Stewards can announce that the land has been gifted to the National Trust.
When the charity first took on the 20-acre site, it was a neglected stretch of countryside with huge environmental potential. Since then, Westland Countryside Stewards has dedicated the Common to nature conservation and provided a place for visitors to reconnect with local nature.
The gift represents the next chapter in the Common’s story. The National Trust will take on responsibility for its future care. For Westland Countryside Stewards, the transfer also reflects the charity’s wider aim of reconnecting people with local nature and making the countryside accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
“Kilkhampton Common has been a very special part of Westland Countryside Stewards’ work, and we are incredibly proud of what has been achieved. It is sad to see the land leave our ownership, because so much of our charity’s history is tied up with it. But we are also very happy that it is passing into the care of the National Trust. We know it will be in good hands, and that its future as a place for nature and people can be secured for years to come.”
John Duncan, Trustee, Westland Countryside Stewards
The decision to gift Kilkhampton Common was not taken lightly, and Westland Countryside Stewards would like to thank everyone who has supported Kilkhampton Common over the years, including its volunteers, local supporters and conservation partners.