The City of London Corporation, which is the sole trustee of the charities managing eight open spaces including the Heath, has been assessing their governance in a bid to make them more financially independent.
Previous coverage by publications including London Centric on a leaked report suggested the plans are intended to reduce the burden on the corporation and could lead to more ticketed shows on the Heath and hiked prices for the ponds and lido.
A corporation spokesperson said the review is being carried out to “strengthen funding models and governance”, with the intention of providing greater flexibility to raise and retain income.
They added there are “no current plans to sell or dispose of any charity-owned land”.
In papers published online, the corporation wrote that its Natural Environment Charities Review (NECR) was launched by its finance committee in December 2023 “to bring greater rigour to the management of services and assets”.
The review included an assessment of the charities’ funding model and their ability to generate income, as well as the way assets are managed.
According to the Camden New Journal, key to the NECR was a belief that the existing funding model, whereby the Corporation bankrolls the spaces directly, was putting off potential donors.
It quoted from the leaked report: “While the City will remain the sole trustee…their public identity should be primarily as charities rather than the City of London Corporation. This is considered key to improved success in grant applications, sponsorship, community support and other income streams.”
In the papers since published by the corporation, it is stated that the Epping Forest and West Ham Park charities have been moved to a new ‘grant funding model’ this month, while the other six are penned in for next April.
The corporation was asked for more information on what the new model entails, but it did not answer this directly.
As part of the NECR, the corporation is also reviewing ‘complementary land’ – sites owned by the corporation but used by the various charities, often occupied by facilities such as offices and sheds.
Papers however state that “a large area, mainly to the north of Epping Forest, is tenanted farmland, grassland, woodland or other open space, and is not subject to the restrictions of the Epping Forest Act and so offers broader potential opportunities for income generation or other uses”.
A proposed new complementary land policy would set out a framework for managing such spaces, which while considering the corporation’s obligations as a trustee, “will also consider priorities such as income generation potential, restrictions on potential uses and/or disposal of assets, and existing commitments such as contribution to the corporation’s Climate Action Strategy targets”.
James Harrington, Cchair of the Epping Forest Heritage Trust, said it is crucial that whatever changes are made to the governance of the forest, the corporation continues to invest “sufficiently” in its ongoing protection, conservation and management.
“As the designated conservators of Epping Forest under the Act of 1878, they will remain responsible for the hugely important environmental and heritage asset that the Forest is, much loved by Londoners and visitors from afar,” he said.
“We, our volunteers, our members and supporters recognise that as the finer details of the proposed changes to its natural environment charities become clearer, we must stand ready to play our role going forward, and continue to work with the City to ensure that the Forest thrives, and is enjoyed now and for generations to come.”
A spokesperson for the Corporation said: “For over 150 years, the City Corporation has been the proud conservator and corporate trustee for some of the UK’s most treasured green spaces. With 47 million visitors a year, our open spaces charities have long generated income from a range of sources to meet growing demand.
“To ensure their long-term sustainability, a review is being carried out to strengthen their funding models and governance. This will give them greater flexibility to operate, generate and retain income, invest in conservation, and enhance services.
“It will ensure they have a resilient future, and continue to thrive as places of natural beauty and community benefit. We remain committed to protecting and preserving these sites forever – they are a lifeline for so many, and we will continue to invest in them and champion their future.”
On the Complementary Land Policy, the spokesperson said a draft is currently being developed and will be considered by members ‘in due course’.
The spokesperson continued: “If adopted, it will provide a clear framework for how land and assets – owned by the corporation – are best used in the future to secure their long-term sustainability.
“This includes areas such as operational buildings, workshops, and grazing land – which support the work of the charities but are not part of the core visitor experience. There are no current plans to sell or dispose of any charity-owned land.
“Any income-generating activities would be carefully assessed, ensuring these spaces remain places of natural beauty, community benefit, and environmental conservation.”
According to the Camden New Journal, the corporation has been funding the Heath to the tune of around £5 million a year.
The famous North London space has also been used to bring in significant income of its own, with Universal Pictures reportedly paying £87,000 to film some of the latest Bridget Jones movie there.
Alongside Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest, the areas administered by the charities are Ashtead Common, Burnham Beeches and Stoke Common, Coulsdon and West Wickham Commons, West Wickham and Spring Park, West Ham Park, and Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park.
