Black Down and Hindhead NT supporters

Karen Neville

Bob Daniels is chairman of Black Down & Hindhead Supporters of the National Trust, a charity helping to conserve and protect nature reserves around Haslemere. He tells us about their work and ask you to help buy more ponies!

The Black Down & Hindhead Supporters of the National Trust is small local charity which traces its origins back to 1906.  

Sir Robert Hunter, one of the founding members of the National Trust, was instrumental in securing Hindhead Commons and the Devil’s Punchbowl for the nation and then needed someone to look after it. He founded the Hindhead Commons management committee whose members included Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as Fire Marshall.  We have expanded our remit to cover all NT landscapes close to Haslemere including Black Down, Marley Downs and many others.  

Membership of the National Trust supports management of every NT property whereas the funds we raise are spent only on local projects, for example:  

Ponies: The ageing Exmoor ponies that are so important for conservation grazing at Hindhead and the Devil’s Punchbowl need replacing to achieve a 30-strong herd. To ensure a spread of ages we are purchasing about four a year and so far we have bought 13! Could you help us fund a pony? 

Beavers: Through generous local donations we provided £60,000 to support the Wilder Valewood project which seeks to enhance biodiversity and includes a beaver enclosure. The valley now has an impressive series of ponds, large and small, and increasingly extensive wetland created by the beavers. 

Iron Age Fort: The NT recently purchased Castle Copse, on the southern end of Blackdown, and we provided funds for rhododendron removal and an archaeological dig which revealed a Bronze / early Iron Age Fort. Come to our Educate & Inspire talk at the Haslemere Educational Museum on June 4th to find out more!  

Emley Barns renovation: The three historic barns at Emley Farm, part of the NT Hindhead portfolio, were in a state of disrepair and were recently designated as ‘at risk’ by Waverley Borough Council. The National Trust has been successful in its application to DEFRA, obtaining 80% of the costs of essential urgent repairs to stabilise the structures. The committee provided the 20% matched funding needed for the project. 

Grayswood Pond: We gave £5,000 to refurbish the NT pond and paths opposite the school in Grayswood. 

Sir Jonathan Hutchinson: Refurbishment of the monument to Sir Jonathan Hutchinson on Marley Heights, eminent physician and founder of the Haslemere Educational Museum, was recently completed. 

We are delighted to fund such an eclectic range of projects and we hope readers might be interested to become a member and/or donate via our website: blackdownhindheadntsupporters.org