A Lancaster community group is calling on people to buy a square to protect the local Freeman’s Wood.
The Friends of Freeman’s Wood group needs to raise around £60,000 to buy the land from the current owner, a property developer based on the other side of the world.
The group is inviting Lancaster residents to become a ‘square-holder’ in a community buy-out of the 27-acre Freeman’s Wood.
The Friends group is using the concept behind the ‘what3words’ app to divide the land into around 12,000 squares, each identified by a unique combination of three words (for example, ///copy.clear.roses).
Each square is 3 metres by 3 metres – about the size of a small room. ‘Square-holders’ who have the app on their phones will be able to find their sponsored squares very easily.
The site now commonly referred to as Freeman’s Wood adjoins what used to be part of a linoleum factory, and is now Lune Industrial Estate. It’s close to the River Lune and is part of land known as Lancaster Marsh Estate.
The group’s secretary Emily Heath said: “By owning the land as a community, we could make it a much better resource for local people and wildlife. We would be able to protect it from development even if planning laws change, and apply for grants to fund improvements that are wanted by local residents.”
“We are asking members of the public to sponsor one or more squares. Each square costs £5 – so twenty squares is £100 and an acre costs £2,250. All donations, big or small, are very welcome. Once all 12,000 squares have been sponsored, there will be enough money to buy the land.”
Squares can be sponsored online here www.lancastergreenspaces.org.uk/freemans-wood-purchase.html or cheques payable to ‘Friends of Freeman’s Wood’ can be sent to the FFW treasurer Simon Thomas at 37 Coverdale Road, Lancaster, LA1 5PY.
A consultation event will be held on Saturday 16th July, from 2.00-5.00 pm in a marquee on Coronation Field.
Committee member Eleanor Levin said: “Please come along on the 16th July. The Friends of Freeman’s Wood are hoping to talk to people of all ages and backgrounds about what you would like to see happening with Freeman’s Wood over the next 1-10 years.
‘’We’ll lead guided walks around Freeman’s Wood, and there will be drinks and cakes for sale, with all proceeds going towards the purchase of the land.”
Freeman’s Wood was awarded Town Green status by Lancashire County Council in 2020.
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