The funding journey is entirely contingent upon whether the land is found suitable for development – agricultural land prices are an order of magnitude lower than those for land with planning permission. When planning is decided in the community’s favour, KEG will work to build up a detailed business case for the Arboretum.
Converting a golf course in to an arboretum has precedent, and as recently as June 2021 Exeter county council working with Devon Wildlife Trust have announced that they will convert an old course in to a wild arboretum, with overwhelming support from local residents.
KEG can benefit from early movers in this space and work with other organisations and Arboretums to understand their funding journey.
To date, KEG has existed as a simple community group with the single ambition of preventing development of housing on the golf course. Moving on to this alternative plan the group understands the need to adopt a constitution and to be incorporated as a ‘not for profit’ or CIO company. This status will allow KEG to make application for funding be it by way of grant, donation or public subscription.
At Government level KEG are looking at the UK Community Ownership and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
KEG are also very aware of the strength of feeling amongst the people of Emmer Green and community donation and subscription will also play a significant part.
Finance Sources
This is a strong period of grants in the environmental space, and due to the proximity of the land to Emmer Green and Caversham and the wider Reading conurbation would be in a good position to apply for many of these. There are several available funding options.
HM Government - Levelling Up Fund
£4.8bn fund for capital investment projects of up to £20m.
Reading is category 2 of three in terms of priority.
Application would be under heading “Cultural Investment”
UK Shared Prosperity Fund
£1.5bn p.a. to replace EU similar funding source.
Targeting regeneration.
Grant Funding options
National Lottery Community Fund-Bringing People Together
Maximum Value £300,000
Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund
Maximum Value £100,000
In addition to grants, we have already described numerous ongoing sources of funding
Work studios
The café and restaurant
Corporate Sponsorship
Art installations
Theatrical events
‘Friends of’ membership
Equipment rental
On-site carbon offsetting
Space rental
It is quite clear that a well-managed and maintained 100 acre park and Arboretum could in fact be a net contributor to the council and community; in the short term as it will be able to pull in funding from a variety of sources, and in the long term as Emmer Green and Caversham and the wider area of Reading will be marked out as a progressive and pleasant place to live and do business, benefitting many thousands of residents both now and in to the future.
