New Donation Station in Windmill Car Park

You can now help care for the Commons by making a donation at our newly installed machine in the Windmill car park.

When you next visit, please give it a tap!

The first Pay and Display equipment was installed in November 2017. This machine took coins only and so wasn't fit for an increasingly cashless society. Visitors can now donate by card and choose from a pre-set amount between £2 and £30.

Donations help maintain and enhance this special place for everyone to enjoy, including repairing the paths and horse rides, clearing the litter, conserving nature, and supporting our mounted patrols.

If you're a regular visitor and would like to support the Commons with a monthly gift, please click here. Thank you so much!

 

The Voluntary Car Park Donation Scheme was introduced in 2017

During 2017, we carried out a consultation on the introduction of a Voluntary Donation Scheme in the Windmill Car Park as a means of raising funds to be used to support the upkeep and preservation of the Commons.

Investing in the upkeep of the Commons is vital if we are to hand them on to the next generation in at least the condition we enjoy today.  As a charity, the Conservators make no profit from the Commons. All money raised from the Levy, together with monies raised from other activities and grants is spent on day to day management, from grass cutting to maintenance of the buildings. This leaves little left to invest in other essential projects and the charity needs to look at additional ways in which to raise funds to preserve and protect the Commons.

Regulating the use of car parks by means of charging is one of the ways in which many open spaces across the UK, such as those managed by the National Trust or the Forestry Commission for example, raise much-needed additional funds. Welcoming visitors to the Commons is vitally important and, to date, free parking has been an integral part of that.

Some 92 responses to the consultation were received. 56% are willing to contribute and 41% believe that the voluntary charge is a good idea. 57% of those who responded were levy-payers.

The scheme is purely voluntary and gives visitors, whether they are Levy-payers or not, an opportunity to donate to the charity if they wish to do so and all funds raised will be used solely for the upkeep of the Commons.