Emergency Appeal to save Mingledown Woods

Chawton House is a UK registered charity that self-generates 100% of the funds needed to keep the House, Gardens, Parkland and Library open and accessible to all.

On 19 February, Storm Eunice ripped across the Chawton House estate, uprooting trees and making public spaces a danger to enter. An old lime tree came crashing down over the drive, blocking access to the House. One of the limes on the Victorian Lime Avenue split in two. Another old oak and an elegant 40ft fir fell in Mingledown Woods, blocking popular paths. Beautiful outdoor spaces, that were only one day earlier open to the public, were suddenly declared unsafe.

Fortunately over the last 18 months, we have been removing dead and dangerous trees from alongside paths, roads and property and this work likely saved lives and property during the storm. However, this extensive work was done without any grant funding and due to this and the COVID-19 pandemic, we now cannot afford to pay for the remaining storm clearance from across the 250-acre estate.

Donate today to help make the Chawton House estate safe for the community to once again enjoy. 

The fallen tree on the drive will remain where it has landed until we can afford the cost of its removal and the Lime Avenue will remain blocked. Most importantly for the local community, the much-loved Mingledown Woods will remain closed until we have the resources to remove the fallen and unsafe trees and repair the pathways. Sadly we anticipate that Mingledown Woods will be closed to the public for months.

We are fundraising for the £15,000 needed for the costs of clearing up; professionally removing dangerous branches and unstable trees; removing the fallen trees, including in an area with no vehicle access; repairing fences, footpaths and the driveway; and re-instating safe clearances for children to play and learn in.  

The estate now needs the help of the people it helped during lockdown.

We now need your support more than ever to help us return the Parkland and Mingledown Woods to the local community that loves and enjoys them. We want to ensure that public access remains free to these spectacular and historic corners of the South Downs National Park.

Please consider donating today to help us restore our beautiful outdoor spaces and make them accessible to everyone again.

With your help, we hope to re-open Mingledown Woods in time for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.

Thank you all for your support.