Tarvin Community Woodland Trust celebrates the historic transfer deeds

A celebration has taken place to mark the historic transfer of ownership from Cheshire West and Chester Council to a group of Trustees of Tarvin Community Woodlands.

The freehold title of the land was transferred to the trustees of the Woodlands from Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) in December 2014, with the deeds being handed over recently during a special celebration held at Tarvin Primary School.

Councillor Samantha Dixon, Leader of the Council, presented the deeds to the Trust on behalf of the Council. The presentation of transfer deeds is a considerable landmark for both the Trust and the Council.

Ever since Tarvin Community Woodland Trust was set up in 1997 by Jim Grogan it has remained at the heart of the community.

The land at Tarvin Community Woodland was formally handed over to the community by Cheshire West and Chester Council in 2009 on a 125-year lease, having previously functioned with a Gardening Licence, from the Highways Agency.

This allowed the trustees to take responsibility for what happens to it, and to use the land as a public amenity. The transfer of the deeds will now allow the trustees to continue this and have full control over the land.

The woodland covers 13 acres and was created from the part-fields left as a noise barrier when the A51 Tarvin Bypass was constructed in the 1980s.

The trustees have proved themselves to be capable of caring for the woodlands well having been awarded six consecutive Green Flags from Keep Britain Tidy, for being one of the best run green spaces in the country.

Following the handing over of the deeds, Antoinette Sandbach MP for Eddisbury presented the sixth Green Flag to the woodland.

Tarvin woodland is a very important part of Tarvin village. It is now a very well used public amenity with a central footpath running through open woodland, meadow and wildflower areas. This is an amenity created and used by the public with full access for people and children with disabilities.

Councillor Dixon said: “This historic transfer now means that Tarvin Woodland can remain in the heart of the community. The transferring of the deeds allows the trustees to continue to use the land as a public amenity.

“Winning the Green Flag Award for the sixth time reflects all the hard work that the Community has invested in this much-loved village asset.”

Charles Bradley, Secretary of Tarvin Community Woodland Trust said: “The generous transfer by the Council of the ownership of the land marks the culmination of Jim Grogan’s vision – that Tarvin should have its own woodland space, provided by the Community for the Community.

“We, and future generations of Trustees, will now care for and develop it as a green oasis in a busy world; to be used and enjoyed by everyone. Thank you, CWaC!”

Local Councillor John Leather who went along to the celebration said: “It is really great to meet so many wonderful volunteers and I congratulate Trust members for their success in being given the ownership of Tarvin Community Woodland which will be enjoyed by generations to come.”

(Picture: John Sim, Charles Bradley, Noel Radcliffe who are all Trustees, Andrew Davies, Headteacher of Tarvin Primary School, and Pete Maiden and Bob Howard who are Trustees, Council leader Councillor Samantha Dixon and Chairman of the Trustees Stuart Exell.)