Help us secure the long term future of Lea Farm Lake (LFL)
Lea Farm Lake (LFL) was bought by Ron Bryant in January 2019 and via a legal process was given to LWT – an amazing gift that will ensure that the lake stays a protected nature reserve forever.
The long term challenges
- One key issue is disturbance from sheep farming from September to March and we are trying to come to arrangements so that the farmer has access but is not visible, renting a big part of the landfill visible from Ron’s hide is one short term option be looked at, but to really have control and plant winter crops for finches, or plough for Skylarks and Lapwings, we’d ideally need to own it.
- The longer term issue is what happens when methane stops coming out of the landfill and even though this might not be until 2045, but when it does, the site could become viable as a business venture, or worse a housing development. And whilst it’s not likely, we must face the fact that any development would be devastating and to show good diligence we absolutely MUST make plans right now to try to avoid this happening at all costs.
What can we do?
LWT must position itself as a tenant at first and later, if it is legally viable, a potential owner of the nearest part of the landfill when the methane is deemed to have ceased. In 2017 the entire landfill guide price was £925,000.00, but we only need to secure about a fifth of the area, just the part we can see immediately from Ron’s hide, if they would split it that way?
In today’s money that would be about about £200,000.00, but we can only wait until we are in a position to approach Summerleaze Ltd when we have the funds, the picture below is a rough idea of the kind of area we would need to think of managing.
Can we raise £200 – £400,000.00 in the next 10 years? I believe we can, Ron Bryant has inspired so many of us that anything is possible if you see the dream and believe we can make it a reality.
How we can all help make the dream come true – Leave a gift in your Will
If one man like Ron can buy a lake and gift it to us, imagine what just 50, or even 100 people could do?
Everyone needs a Will, so whether it’s your first Will, or latest please leave a gift for LWT – If 50 people left us £5,000.00 we would be able to buy the area of landfill we think would keep us safe.
UK charities received over £2.5 billion in 2016 from gifts in Wills http://thirdforcenews.org.uk/tfn-news/brits-leave-2.5bn-to-charity-in-their-wills and now we are a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), LWT should be no exception.
Around 60% of Britons don’t have a Will https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-3807497/Nearly-60-Britons-not-written-will.html
If you do have a Will and you know it is up to date, all you need to do is contact your solicitor and add a ‘codicil’ adding Lavell’s Wetland Trust to receive a specific gift of any amount you choose. You can make a gift on either a first, or second passing, or even both. Please be sure to add our charity number (1176960) so that LWT is guaranteed to benefit.
Fraser Cottington has provided a link to an online Will platform called ‘WilloBee‘, it’s from the Solicitor firm he consults for – Honey Legal, Fraser can advise on your ‘Free Will Code’, or if you get stuck, or simply aren’t sure an online Will is right for you.
LWT must remain impartial, so you can of course find a local solicitor, visit the Law Society website at http://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/ Solicitor prices are highly variable.
The Money Advice Service is another good source for information
https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/categories/making-a-will
As is Which
https://www.which.co.uk/money/wills-and-probate/passing-on-your-money
Charity donations can reduce your Inheritance Tax, this site Goodpaye explains, but if you have an Independent Financial Advisor they can tell you all about it
