The Gatwick Greenspace Partnership works in and around Horley, Horsham and Crawley, as well as Gatwick Airport. Despite this largely urban setting the surrounding countryside is a rich one, with ancient woods, heathland and steep sided streams.
Our aims can be stated very simply: 'To benefit people, wildlife and the countryside in and around Horley, Crawley, Charlwood and Horsham'. We want to enhance people's lives through contact with nature and to help wildlife and the countryside flourish, with the help of local people. There are three inter-related threads to our work, which can be defined as our primary aims: Environmental Conservation, Community Involvement and Planning.
There are weekly volunteer tasks to carry out woodland management, restoration of heathland, and other habitat management tasks. We run guided walks once a month to help people discover their local countryside and heritage. We also help deliver a Walking for Health scheme, to encourage people to combine gentle exercise with a social event.
If you are interested in volunteering or any of our activities please contact us at the Project offices on 01293 550730 or email Pete at petecrawford@sussexwt.org.uk.
Sussex Wildlife Trust is now leading Gatwick Greenspace Partnership. All the existing funding partners - Surrey and West Sussex County Councils, Crawley, Horsham, Horley Town, Mole Valley and Reigate & Banstead councils and BAA Gatwick will continue.
Our work in Surrey also continues at sites like Riverside Garden Park and Tanyward Pond in Horley; Glovers Wood in Charlwood and Hammonds Copse near Newdigate.
"There are benefits for all under the Trust's new leadership" says Tony Whitbread, Chief Executive of Sussex Wildlife Trust. "Gatwick Greenspace Partnership gains the support and expertise of the county's leading conservations organisation and the Trust has a new focus in the north of Sussex with opportunities to raise awareness and protect urban wildlife."
Pete Crawford, Project Manager for GGP says "The merger with Sussex Wildlife Trust means we become the main conservation organisation in the Gatwick area and there are many opportunities for peopel to get involved in protecting their local wildlife and countryside."
