Nature reserve saved from being built on

A trust has succeeded in buying 20 acres of land threatened by development to turn into a nature reserve.

Townend Field in Great Ouseburn, near Harrogate, was at risk of being "bulldozed" when it went up for sale, according to the Upper Ouse Conservation Trust.

Actress Dame Judi Dench, whose family used to visit the beauty spot, supported their campaign to meet the £275,000 asking price.

Trustee Graeme Jackson said the trust managed to raise the funds in 29 days.

He said: "The reasons for buying the land were that we wanted to preserve it and protect it from development because it's a site of importance for nature conservation.

"The local school also doesn't have a playing field so we want to lease half an acre of the land, so the kids have some green space."

He added it would give the community access to the land and there were plans to add footpaths, signposts and interpretation boards.

The trust has raised £284,000 so far, with a target of £300,000 to cover legal fees and work on the site.

"We've had 475 donations from people all over the world and 180 people have joined and become a member of the trust," Mr Jackson said.

"In the early days, someone managed to get a message to Judi Dench via her grandson and she sent us a lovely video and a donation."

Dame Judi grew up in York and said her father and brother used to visit Townend Field, which she thought was "well worth saving".

The area was also featured in a drawing by the writer Anne Bronte, who was inspired by the landscape when she worked as a governess for a family who lived nearby.

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