As many of you will know, Torpel Manor Field, at the far end of West Street, Helpston is a scheduled ancient monument, containing the visible remains of a medieval fortified manor, complete with earthworks, moats and ditches. It is a nationally important site and a very rare local example of this kind of heritage site.
For some years the field has been used as a pony paddock. However, it has recently changed ownership and the new owners have offered to sell it on to the Langdyke Countryside Trust if we can raise the money within the next twelve months.
We hope to be able to raise the majority of the money required through grants, but we will shortly be launching an appeal for funds from the community and from local companies to help with both this project and to raise funds to buy the top field at Swaddywell.
In the meantime, and as part of national Green Leap Day, we would be delighted if as many of you as possible could join us for a walk around the site at 1100 on Friday 29th February, so you can see its potential and also the task ahead in clearing it up! We will then be starting work that afternoon on clearing up some of the rubbish from the paddock, so if you would care to join us from 2pm onwards, bring strong gloves and boots!
Green Leap Day is a national initiative which encourages companies to give staff the day off (which is effectively an additional working day) and ask them instead to get involved with environmental initiatives. My own company is taking part and we will be there on 29th mucking out the stables!
For those who can't get make the 29th, we will also hold a walk-round session on 1 March between 11-1200.
The chance to buy Torpel Manor Field is a wonderful opportunity for our communities. It has the potential to be a wonderful community asset, managed in the interests of people, heritage and nature, with access for all.
Kind regards,
Richard Astle
Langdyke Countryside Trust
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