Queen's College sells field to Trull Meadow Trust

Supported by former Somerset and England cricketer Marcus Trescothick, they have bought Trull Meadow from Queen's College.

It comes after planning permission was granted for 2,000 homes on fields on Trull's border with Comeytrowe and Rumwell.

Trull Meadow Trust was formed by a group of villagers after the field was put up for sale.

Alan Reeve, of the trust, said: "Negotiations were opened with Queen’s College.

"The school was pleased to be a good neighbour to Trull and friendly discussions early in 2020 resulted in agreement that the trust could acquire the meadow.

"Unfortunately the legal process of transferring ownership was much delayed by the coronavirus pandemic and only in January was the deal finally signed off."

The meadow is widely used by families, dog walkers, runners and other people from Trull and further afield and it is hoped this use will grow.

Plans are afoot to create Friends of Trull Meadow, volunteers who will discuss and carry out maintenance and work such as killing nettles, tree planting, and installing nesting boxes.

Mr Reeve added: "A more urgent issue for the trustees is the funding of this exciting project.

"A substantial sum is still needed to meet the cost and to date a large number of donations have been made by generous locals, alongside a number of equally generous interest free loans to enable the trustees to fund the purchase.

"These loans will need to be repaid over the next few years so the trustees still have work to do before these debts can be cleared and we can finally call Trull Meadow our own."

Fundraising are planned once the Covid restrictions are lifted and Marcus Trescothick, who regularly walks his dog in the meadow, has pledged to support the initiative.

Somerset West and Taunton Council has offered a grant for the project.

The meadow is accessed from Trull Water Mill footpath, Wild Oak Lane or Queens Drive.

It is bounded on the east by the Sherford Brook, a watercourse featuring owls, kingfishers, water rats and occasionally otters.

The meadow contains two glorious oak trees, one believed to be more than 500 years old and is said to have sheltered the Parliamentary troops on their way to relieve Taunton in 1645 during the English Civil War.

If you would like to help us to repay the local loans, donations can be made via trullmeadowtrust.wixsite.com/trullmeadowtrust or justgiving.com/trullmeadowtrust

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