Brown’s Piece also known as Hack Hill, Secured for the Community — Forever
09/09/2025
Wotton Community Land Trust Ltd is delighted to announce the successful purchase of Brown’s Piece, a cherished green space on the edge of Wotton-under-Edge. This marks a major milestone in local conservation and community action.
Brown’s Piece is now safeguarded in perpetuity - never to be built on, and protected for the benefit of nature, wildlife, and the people of Wotton and surrounding areas. It will remain a haven of biodiversity and a place for reflection, connection, and stewardship for generations to come.
“This is a victory for community spirit and environmental care,” said Dom Driver, Chair of the Trust. “We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who donated, volunteered, and believed in this vision.”
While many generous donations have made this purchase possible, the Trust still faces a shortfall and must repay the loan that enabled the acquisition. Further financial gifts are warmly welcomed and can be made on wclt.org.uk/donate
In addition, membership is open to all - for just £1 for life, wclt.org.uk/membership, residents can become part of this legacy and receive regular updates on:
🌱 Volunteer days and community events
🌼 Land care and conservation efforts
🦋 Grant-funded projects to support local flora and fauna
Join us in protecting Brown’s Piece / Hack Hill - not just for today, but for tomorrow. Together, we’re building something lasting, rooted in care, connection, and community pride.
Opportunity to buy a limited edition print by artist Daniel Murley and raise funds for the campaign.
04/04/2025
Members may know that “do it for our swifts” has been a theme of the campaign. Dom Driver our Chair fantasies that a scream of swifts will fly over our first community meeting on site or perhaps as the first volunteering party rests in the early summer evening following a day’s productive work on site. With the purchase proceeding at pace, this might just happen. Artist Daniel Murley has joined this inspiration by creating this beautiful image of a swift in flight. He is selling a limited edition print at his Etsy site and kindly donating all proceeds to our campaign. This is your opportunity to purchase this beautiful artwork, resonant with our campaign and help raise funds to buy and care for Browns Piece, above which the swifts will feed each year.
Thank to the very talented Daniel Murley for his support.
Wonderful news, our offer to purchase Brown’s Piece has been accepted, subject to contract.
28/02/2025
An email has been sent to each pledgee requesting payment. The emails are from our Treasurer Steve Mackay. If you haven't received one please check your spam/junk folder. If it is still not apparent please contact us via email: info@wclt.org.uk Thank you.
Time for an update – we are still in the hunt!
Time for an update – we are still in the hunt!
14/11/2024
Since our last email where we announced we’re now in a position to proceed, we have continued negotiations with the vendors, as there remains a question on terms (given the initial discussion was some two years ago) but we hope we’re now incredibly close to shaking hands.
We appreciate it’s frustrating that we can’t provide any further update at this time but please keep everything crossed for positive news this side of Christmas, when we will next be in touch.
Excellent show of support at our AGM
12/06/2024
Over 60 people attended our AGM on Tuesday, thanks to all of you for your support and KLB for hosting! A few key points were:
Chair of Wotton Community Land Trust Dom Driver and our newly elected Treasurer Steven MacKay explained our current position and confirmed that Brown’s Piece/Hack Hill is still on the market.
We are now a charity in law, so we are better placed for accessing grants, which we are actively pursuing.
Our membership is now in excess of 200 and we have over £61,500 pledged, more with Gift Aid which we can now claim.
Please become a member – a large and diverse membership helps massively with fundraising applications – thank you to all of you who have signed up since the AGM.
Membership of WCLT does not incur any further commitment, or imply any liability, but gives you a say and a vote on decisions made by the Trust and helps us form the vision for Brown’s Piece when we purchase it.
Please pledge to help us purchase Brown’s Piece/Hack Hill to save this vital land in Wotton for nature and wildlife.