Earth Trust
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA United Kingdom environmental charity that manages nature reserves, farmland, wetlands and public green spaces while delivering conservation, education and community programs.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Earth Trust is an environmental charity based in Oxfordshire, England. It was established in 1967 as the Northmoor Trust for Countryside Conservation and was later renamed Earth Trust in 2011. The organization was founded by British engineer Sir Martin Wood with a purpose centered on practical environmental conservation, responsible land management, education and the application of land science. Its principal landscape is Wittenham Clumps and the surrounding land at Little Wittenham, near the River Thames. The charity owns or manages a substantial mixed-use estate comprising woodland, farmland, wildflower meadows, wetlands and sites of archaeological and ecological importance. The Wittenham Clumps landscape is the organization’s best-known public destination and includes Castle Hill and Round Hill, two prominent chalk hilltops with historic earthworks and old planted beech trees. The wider estate also includes Little Wittenham Wood, Broad Arboretum, Neptune Wood, Paradise Wood and the Earth Trust Centre. Together, these places support conservation research, public access, learning activities, events and land-based enterprise. Earth Trust’s work extends beyond its flagship site. It manages a growing network of community reserves and public open spaces in and around Oxfordshire, including Wallingford Castle Meadows, Wallingford Riverside Meadows, Mowbray Fields in Didcot, Thrupp Lake near Radley, Abbey Fishponds in Abingdon, Tuckmill Meadows and Besselsleigh Wood. Several sites are managed under agreements with local authorities or other landowners. The reserves provide accessible natural areas in towns and urbanizing communities, while also protecting habitats such as floodplain meadow, woodland, wetland and orchid-rich grassland. Across its sites, the organization receives more than 200,000 visits each year according to the referenced overview. A major part of Earth Trust’s conservation model is landscape-scale habitat restoration. In 2010, it acquired farmland beside Little Wittenham Wood and the River Thames and began the River of Life project in partnership with the Environment Agency. The project transformed agricultural land into wetland habitat and demonstrated the charity’s approach of combining biodiversity restoration, public engagement and long-term land stewardship. Related River of Life work near the River Thames and River Thame continued in later years, including the River of Life 2 project, which involved several smaller sites. Earth Trust also operates a working farm and supports local food production. In partnership with Farm Step tenants, it produces or supports the production of legumes, grains, wildflowers, beef, lamb and honey across approximately 530 hectares of mixed-use farmland. The charity presents farming, conservation and food education as connected activities rather than separate programs, promoting healthy and locally produced food alongside ecological land management. Education and public participation are central to the brand. The Earth Lab learning center at the Earth Trust Centre provides classrooms, exhibition and meeting space, and is designed for schools, families, community groups and corporate or private events. The organization runs conservation courses, practical workshops, family programs, festivals and visitor activities. Its volunteer program, operating in various forms since 1983, supports land management, conservation, administration, education, youth engagement, events and visitor services. This contribution was recognized in 2016 with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The charity’s current identity combines environmental restoration, accessible countryside, nature-based learning, community reserve management and sustainable farming. It is not a conventional consumer-products brand or publicly traded company; its principal offerings are places, programs, knowledge and stewardship services. Earth Trust’s geographic focus is strongly regional, particularly Oxfordshire and neighboring parts of southern England, although its projects address broader environmental themes such as habitat restoration, climate resilience, local food and public participation in conservation.
History
Earth Trust began in 1967 under the name Northmoor Trust for Countryside Conservation. It was established by the British engineer Sir Martin Wood as a charitable organization dedicated to environmental conservation through land management, education and land science. Rather than operating as a commercial environmental-services company, the trust developed a model based on acquiring, managing and restoring land for the benefit of nature and the public. The organization’s central estate grew through a series of land acquisitions and development decisions. Little Wittenham Wood was acquired in 1982, followed by Wittenham Clumps in 1984. College Farm was added in 1993, strengthening the trust’s ability to connect conservation with working agriculture. Paradise Wood, acquired in 1991, became a national research woodland, while the Broad Arboretum was planted in 1998 to represent tree species native to Oxfordshire alongside later introductions. Neptune Wood was planted in connection with the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar, using oak planting to recall the historic dependence of naval construction on timber. From 1983 onward, the trust maintained a volunteer program covering practical conservation, land management, education, administration, youth work, events and visitor support. Volunteer participation became an important part of how Earth Trust delivered its public mission. The program later received national recognition through the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2016. The trust expanded into community-site management in 2000, when it took responsibility for Wallingford Castle Meadows, Wallingford Riverside Meadows and Mowbray Fields. These sites broadened its role from managing a concentrated rural estate to caring for accessible nature spaces within or close to towns. Thrupp Lake near Radley was added to the organization’s management portfolio in 2009. Later arrangements included Abbey Fishponds in Abingdon-on-Thames in 2014, followed by Besselsleigh Wood and Tuckmill Meadows in 2024. Land restoration became increasingly prominent in the 2010s. In 2010, Earth Trust acquired farmland beside Little Wittenham Wood and the River Thames. In partnership with the Environment Agency, it reshaped the land as wetlands through the River of Life project. The project sought to restore ecological processes and wetland habitat while retaining a public-facing and educational dimension. It later received joint recognition in the Best Practice Award for Practical Nature Conservation at the 2014 Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management Awards. A related River of Life project near Dorchester-on-Thames began in 2019, and River of Life 2 subsequently transformed several smaller sites along the Thames and Thame. In 2011, the Northmoor Trust adopted the Earth Trust name. The new identity reflected a broader public mission encompassing nature, people, learning and sustainable land use. The organization continued to manage Wittenham Clumps as its principal landscape, including woodland, farmland, wetlands, wildflower areas, archaeological features and public paths. Castle Hill is a nationally protected Scheduled Monument, while Little Wittenham Wood is recognized for its ecological importance, including its population of great crested newts and its designations as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation. The Earth Trust Centre at Little Wittenham developed into the organization’s operational and educational base. Planning to convert disused Hill Farm buildings into offices began in 2002. The site later incorporated Fison Barn, which is available for private, wedding and corporate hire, and Earth Lab, a timber-framed learning center with classrooms, an atrium and covered outdoor space. Earth Lab was completed in 2021 through collaboration with Enterprise Oxfordshire and received £1.49 million from the UK Local Growth Fund. It expanded the trust’s capacity for schools, community groups, events and environmental learning. Earth Trust also retained a working-farm role. Across roughly 530 hectares of mixed-use farmland, the organization and its Farm Step tenants support production of legumes, grains, wildflowers, beef, lamb and honey. This work links biodiversity management with local food systems and public education. The trust’s events program has included countryside-management courses, practical workshops, family festivals and seasonal activities. Earlier children’s food festivals in Oxfordshire attracted substantial attendance and used interactive exhibits to connect food, culture and environmental awareness. Today, Earth Trust remains an active English charity focused primarily on Oxfordshire. Its work combines ownership and management of important landscapes, contracts to care for community reserves, wetland creation, sustainable agriculture, environmental education, volunteering and public access. Its brand is therefore defined less by a packaged product than by a portfolio of places and programs intended to make conservation visible, participatory and useful to local communities.
- 2024
Two additional community reserves added
[1]Earth Trust began managing Besselsleigh Wood and Tuckmill Meadows under new arrangements.
- 2021
Earth Lab completed
[1]The Earth Lab learning center was completed at the Earth Trust Centre with support from Enterprise Oxfordshire and Local Growth Fund financing.
- 2019
Related River of Life work begins near Dorchester-on-Thames
[1]A further wetland-restoration project was commenced near Dorchester-on-Thames.
- 2016
Volunteer program receives national recognition
[1]Earth Trust’s volunteer contribution was recognized with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
- 2014
Abbey Fishponds management begins
[1]The trust took over management of the Abbey Fishponds community nature reserve in Abingdon.
- 2014
River of Life recognized by CIEEM
[1]The River of Life project jointly won the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management award for practical nature-conservation best practice.
- 2011
Organization renamed Earth Trust
[1]The Northmoor Trust adopted the Earth Trust name and a broader public-facing identity.
- 2010
River of Life project launched
[1]Farmland acquired beside the Thames was transformed into wetland habitat in partnership with the Environment Agency.
- 2009
Thrupp Lake added to the management portfolio
[1]Earth Trust took on management of Thrupp Lake near Radley as part of its expanding community-reserve work.
- 2002
Planning begins for the Earth Trust Centre
[1]The formal planning process began to convert disused Hill Farm buildings into offices and facilities for the trust.
Products and positioning
Regional environmental conservation charity focused on practical land stewardship, habitat restoration, public access, environmental learning, volunteering and locally connected food production.
Public landscape and conservation estate · 1984
Wittenham Clumps
Earth Trust’s flagship public landscape in Oxfordshire comprises Castle Hill and Round Hill together with woodland, farmland, wildflower meadows and wetland areas. The site combines public recreation with ecological management and archaeological significance. Castle Hill is a Scheduled Monument, and the hilltops are noted for their historic planted beech trees. The wider area hosts walks, events, volunteer activity, learning programs and conservation projects.
Wetland restoration program · 2010
River of Life
River of Life is a landscape-scale habitat-restoration initiative developed on land beside the River Thames near Little Wittenham. Earth Trust worked with the Environment Agency to convert acquired farmland into wetland habitat. The program illustrates the charity’s integrated approach to biodiversity, floodplain and landscape management, public engagement and long-term stewardship. Related work later extended toward Dorchester-on-Thames and additional Thames and Thame sites.
Environmental learning and events center · 2021
Earth Lab
Earth Lab is a timber-framed learning facility at the Earth Trust Centre on Wittenham Clumps. It provides classrooms, an atrium, covered outdoor meeting space and facilities for schools, community groups, corporate events and environmental education. The building was designed to connect visitors with the trust’s conservation and land-management work and has capacity for a substantial annual program of learning and events.
Community reserve management · 2000
Community nature reserves
Earth Trust manages a network of community reserves and public green spaces, including Wallingford Castle Meadows, Wallingford Riverside Meadows, Mowbray Fields, Thrupp Lake, Abbey Fishponds, Besselsleigh Wood and Tuckmill Meadows. These sites vary from floodplain meadows and woodland to former lakes and enclosed urban-edge reserves. Management typically combines habitat conservation, public access, volunteer involvement and agreements with local authorities or landowners.
Sustainable agriculture
Working farm and local food program
Earth Trust manages approximately 530 hectares of mixed-use farmland and works with Farm Step tenants to support production associated with local and healthy food systems. The portfolio includes legumes, grains, wildflowers, beef, lamb and honey. Agricultural activity is managed alongside habitat creation, landscape stewardship and public education, making farming part of the charity’s wider conservation model.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Gateway to Nature
Oxfordshire · United Kingdom
The Gateway to Nature work followed development of Earth Lab and was intended to broaden access to environmental learning, nature experiences and the Earth Trust Centre.
- 2016Lambing Weekends
Oxfordshire · United Kingdom
Earth Trust’s seasonal lambing events combined working-farm activity, family visits and countryside education at its Little Wittenham estate.
Outcome. The events attracted more than 8,000 visitors in 2016 and were later superseded by a Spring Festival format.
- 2009Children’s Food Festival
Oxfordshire · United Kingdom
A second edition of the children’s food festival presented food-related exhibitions, including material on global diets and an animated educational feature.
Outcome. The festival continued the trust’s use of public events to connect food, learning and environmental themes.
- 2007Children’s Food Festival
Oxfordshire · United Kingdom
Earth Trust hosted a large children-focused food and education festival in Oxfordshire. The program used exhibitions and interactive material to explore food, culture and healthy eating, and reportedly attracted more than 16,000 attendees.
Outcome. The event established food education as a visible part of the organization’s public-engagement program.
Brand decisions
2021
Completion of Earth LabOtherBackground
Earth Trust needed a dedicated facility for environmental learning, community activity, meetings and events at its Little Wittenham base.
Action taken
In collaboration with Enterprise Oxfordshire, it completed the Earth Lab building at the Earth Trust Centre.
Aftermath
The center expanded the charity’s capacity to host education and engagement programs. The project received £1.49 million from the UK Local Growth Fund.
Local Growth Fund support. £1.49 million (Project completed in 2021)
2011
Rebrand from Northmoor Trust to Earth TrustStrategyBackground
The organization had expanded from its original countryside-conservation identity into community reserve management, wetland restoration, education, public access and sustainable farming.
Action taken
It adopted the Earth Trust name and presented a broader mission linking people, nature, land and learning.
Aftermath
The Earth Trust identity remains in use and covers the charity’s estate-based conservation, education and community programs.
2010
Launch of the River of Life restoration modelStrategyBackground
The trust acquired farmland beside the River Thames in an area where wetland restoration could deliver ecological and landscape benefits.
Action taken
Working with the Environment Agency, Earth Trust converted the land into wetland habitat and developed a publicly visible conservation project.
Aftermath
The project became a foundation for later wetland work and received joint recognition in a 2014 practical nature-conservation award.
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