Background
Danesmead Meadow was created in the early 1990s when the builders, Beazers Ltd, vacated the site that had been their storage area. Before this, the land had been the playing fields of Danesmead Secondary Modern School (now Steiner School). Originally, the plans were to build on the land more housing but because the site line would have been beyond that of Broadway West then planning permission was refused. In 1992, York Natural Environment Trust (YNET) got involved and negotiated a sale of the land to them for a peppercorn payment. On vacating the site the builder levelled the land and laid grass seed. Under the guidance of YNET, a committee was formed to manage the land. YNET was set up in 1988 in response to local concerns over the environment that had built up in the mid-1980s.
In 1994, the Orchard was created with a mixture of old English apple trees. The orchard was named Shona’s Orchard in memory of an employee of English Nature (now Natural England) who was tragically killed in a car accident. Natural England sourced and paid for the trees and helped in establishing the orchard and its ongoing maintenance.
The legal landowner is Danesmead Community Meadow & Orchard Charity, who are custodian of the land for the benefit of the Residents of Danesmead Estate.
Management Structure
Danesmead Residents and Meadow Association - the name of the previous committee of residents who were responsible for fundraising and managing the meadow. All day-to-day activities, fundraising and events were established by the group. Most of the current committee are now part of the Danesmead Community Meadow & Orchard (DCMO) committee, who will continue the good work using the previous goals and objectives as they are still relevant. The DCMO has a committee comprising a Chairperson, a Treasurer and Committee members who are all volunteers and are selected from Danesmead residents and the neighbouring area.
Goals and Objectives
1. For the public benefit, the conservation, preservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment, in particular through the establishment and maintenance of a community orchard in Danesmead and the surrounding area which supports a diverse and species-rich ecosystem.
2. To promote for the benefit of the inhabitants of Danesmead and the surrounding areas the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the conditions of life of the said inhabitants.’
How we do this:
By managing and maintaining Danesmead Meadow and Orchard
By creating opportunities for social occasions for residents, neighbours, and their families and friends
By expanding the wildflower meadow and encourage wildlife to prosper
By safeguarding the future of the meadow and orchard from a legal viewpoint, and to ensure continuity of maintenance