Daisybank is a much loved field between Daisybank Road and Pilford Road in Leckhampton.
It forms a striking first approach to Leckhampton Hill from the urban area. It includes criss-crossing public rights of way and a recognised heritage feature in the route of the former Leckhampton tramroad that once served the quarries on the hill. It is a safe natural play area for children and popular amongst walkers, pets, cyclists going to and from the hill and in snowy weather thousands of sledgers. It is part of the Cotswolds National Landscape and listed in the Priority Habitats Inventory for England and Gloucestershire’s Nature Recovery Network map for its grassland and woodland habitats. It hosts many wildflowers, birds, bats, IUCN-red listed adders, foxes, badgers and deer and features spontaneous springs in wet weather.
1.7 hectares of Daisybank were recently put up for sale with a guide price of £75,000 by their longstanding owner, Pye of Oxford. Leckhampton with Warden Hill Parish Council asked Cheltenham Borough Council to recognise it as an asset of community value and this has been done, blocking general sale for six months to allow time for a community bid.
Local stakeholders met on 2 April and the Daisybank Community Interest Company has now been set up as a non-profit company that will explore making a bid for the land, raising the necessary funds and exploring different ownership and management options. We’re grateful to Leckhampton with Warden Parish Council for their support so far.
If you are interested in helping to protect this important community asset for future generations, please get in touch! We are particularly looking for anyone with experience of conveyancing, property, ecology or land use but also just enthusiasm and commitment. You can email me at martin@martinhorwood.net if you have any specific questions or just want to be kept in touch. Put ‘Daisybank’ in the subject line please.
Cllr Martin Horwood