Gifts, legacies and financial support

Financial gifts

We are a Charity, not a Local Authority body, and do not receive any funding through Council Tax for example.

Our main sources of income are countryside stewardship grants, the licence fee paid for the golf course and personal donations. Grant money is under pressure and likely to reduce in a post-Brexit world. In these constrained times, your donation will make a real difference.

Donations to help us continue conservation work on Cleeve Common are always very welcome. Each gift, large or small, helps us to protect and enhance the Common for generations to come. For instance:

• £25 will buy 6 bales of hay, one winter breakfast for the Galloway cattle

• £50 covers the cost of emptying the bins a day

• £100 will provide 8 metres of fencing to keep the stock safe

• £300 will pay for an ecology survey

There are several ways to donate - the details of which are here

Memorials and legacies

Memorial Programme

The Memorial Programme gives local residents the opportunity to make a donation in memory of a loved one that will support the conservation of Cleeve Common. Donations will help to maintain and enhance the Common’s natural beauty as a lasting and fitting tribute to the family member or friend.

We ask for a minimum donation of £600 and donors will then be able to place a plaque for 25 years on the new Memorial Wall. This is located near the iconic Three Sisters trees on the southern edge of the escarpment, with fine views over Prestbury and Cheltenham.  Donors will be invited to an annual guided walk to see and hear about our ongoing conservation management of the Common. 

To join the Programme, please complete an application form. If you are a UK taxpayer, we’d also ask you to tick the Gift Aid declaration box, which enables us to increase the value of your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you. Thank you.

Legacies

Legacies are one of the most important sources of income for charities in the UK, and leaving a legacy to charity may be the most important gift you make in your lifetime. Leaving a legacy to support the conservation of Cleeve Common is as easy as a visit to your solicitor to arrange to write, or amend, your will. You will need to include specific details such as the full name, address and Registered Charity number of the Trust. Please contact us for the information you need.

Memorial seats

With regret, we cannot accommodate requests for memorial seats on Cleeve Common. As it is held in such affection locally, we receive frequent requests for benches. In order to keep the Common in the condition that we all know and love it for, we have had to consider the impact on the landscape and the conservation and archaeological value of the surrounding area. The requirements placed upon us to manage the Common as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), as part of the Cotswolds National Landscape (former AONB), have also become more rigorous. Please consider the Memorial Programme described above as an alternative way to commemorate the life of a relative or friend who loved the Common.

Scattering of Ashes

We are often asked whether ashes of loved ones can be scattered on the Common. This is a good way to link a person who loved the area with Cleeve Common and also leaves a special place for that person to be remembered. We do allow scattering of ashes, but if you wish to do so, please select a spot that offers some privacy – not the obvious viewpoints and seat locations. In particular, please do not scatter ashes in the areas close to either of our Memorial Walls. The presence of human remains causes upset and offence to some visitors.  Make sure the ashes are well and truly scattered to the four winds. Do not dig a hole to bury the ashes or mark the site with stones, flowers or other objects. Thank you.

Fundraise for us

We are always very grateful to anyone who chooses to fundraise for us. Giving up your time to bake, complete a sporting feat or any other challenge for us is incredibly generous. Thank you!

If you are thinking about supporting Cleeve Common Trust and fundraising for us please let us know as we can help with collection tins and other useful materials. We can also share your story through our social media channels.