Millennium Trust
The charitable Trust was created in 1999 with support from the Millennium Commission, Rotherfield Parish Council, Wealden District Council, local groups and individuals to purchase land in Rotherfield as a permanent open space for use by the village. The Green consists of about 13 acres of meadow, woodland, old hedges and a wetland area. The objective is to manage the site in perpetuity as a wildlife habitat principally for the enjoyment of the people of Rotherfield.
To this end we have created access for disabled visitors, provided seats and installed a boardwalk to improve access across the wetland area. To enhance the habitat and encourage wildlife we have planted natural hedgerow species where there were gaps in hedges, preserved the original field pattern, recreated an apple orchard and created a pond. Part of the area is grazed by cattle during the summer and a large number of nest boxes have been erected. Work on the hedgerows will continue over several years to regenerate their original state.
As part of the Jubilee celebrations on Sat 1st June 2002, a wrought iron sign was donated by Mrs Wallis, whose late husband (Reg) used to farm the fields now taken over by the Millennium Green. The sign was made by Peter Wallis (son of Mrs Wallis).
Membership
We do not operate any membership procedure and the Green is open to all. Voluntary working parties help with various maintenance tasks during the year. Their work includes maintaining the hedges, planting additional natural herbs, shrubs and trees, clearing encroaching brambles and maintaining the formal area. Volunteer wardens keep an eye on the site and identify potential problems.
There are always opportunities for individuals to help with the many aspects of running the Green. Equally there is always a demand for financial expenditure to ensure the Green is maintained satisfactorily; thus any donations are always welcome.
Meetings
The working parties meet at the Station Road pedestrian entrance on the first Sunday of each month from 10:00 a.m. until noon. We always welcome new volunteers who will be provided with training and tools as necessary. We recommend that you wear old clothes, wellie boots and bring gardening gloves.
The site has now been preserved as an area for quiet recreation where the people of Rotherfield can enjoy the striking views across the High Weald, the range of wildlife habitats provided by the different fields, the small stream which is a source of the river Medway, woodland, wetland and the ancient hedgerows.
We have initiated a number of surveys of the site which have produced reports describing aspects of the geology, lichens and bryophtes, plants, trees, insects, birds, butterflies and molluscs. A review of the site's history identifies an early reference to the area in 792 A.D. and gives a more detailed description of the ownership and usage from 1839 to the present day. The spring emerging in one of the upper fields provided a well for the village in the 19th Century and there is a fascinating story of pipes, pumps, a reservoir and polluted water during the period 1896-1898 in the report. These reports are available from the chairman.
For more information
Our secretary is John Richardson and he can be contacted at 01892 852467. Richard Mann, the chair of the trustees, is available on 01892 852470. Click here for the photos page.
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