Education Charity for Horticulture & Conservation 

 

1. Registration

The Charity Commission approved the Trust as charitable in purpose according to the laws of England and Wales. The Stephen Cox Garden Trust was entered onto the Register of Charities on 14th.August 2017 (#1174239) as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (C.I.O). The stated and approved Objects of the Charity being:

1. To advance education in the subjects of horticulture and conservation in particular but not exclusively by means of: study placements, public literature, making videos; specialist library; public  research; mentoring; websites; placements 

2. Such charitable purposes for the public benefit as are exclusively charitable according to the laws of England and Wales as the trustees may from time to time determine.

 

2. General Purpose

This ancillary document further explains its work to enhance & cherish the garden, conserve the library, and be of benefit to the local community and public.

The General Purpose, Public Benefit,  Goals,  Activities, and Means shall be as follows: To offer charitable programmes of education, horticulture, wildlife, and heritage, for the enrichment of students across Britain and Europe and the improvement of human well-being in general based upon the founder's garden, library and teachings.

 

3. Public Benefit

A. General Public Benefit

(these are voluntary offering of gwcilirues in additional to our charity registration and will be offered from time to time according to available finance manpower sponsorship and support)

i) By helping people learn about and appreciate their local landscape and wildlife.

ii) By providing study courses and training placements, workshops.

iii) By having open days as and when circumstances permit.

iv) By teaching skills on horticulture and conservation.

v) By providing a garden for study, etc.

vi) By raising awareness of conservation methods & needs in domestic gardens.

vii) By offering free access to the private reference library to individual scholars and students by appointment.

viii) By working with charitable & governmental agencies (such as those helping people overcome their barriers to education and employment).

B. Individual Benefits

(i) By providing skills to individuals. Including: (a) enhance social, communication, leadership and teamanship skills. (b) improve career prospects and strengthen their stake in society.

(ii) By helping individual scholars with research projects.

(iii) By helping local students with their studies via access to our library.

(iv) By enriching the living experience of individuals via deeper understanding of horticulture, wildlife, social responsibility, citizenship, landscape and local traditions, environment & conservation.

(v) By offering skills and insights into: horticulture, conservation, art & design, history, crafts & d.i.y.

(vi) By providing residential study placements for European students age 18-27.

 

4. Goals & Activities

A. GOALS

1. To maintain and improve the garden and its plant collections.

2. To develop new projects and facilities therein.

3. As and when finances circumstances permit offer: (i)Open days. (ii)Lectures/events 

4. To encourage lectures & talks on relevant subjects.

5. To encourage activities for The Friends of the Garden.

6. To run wildlife workshops for local people (when circumstances & finances permit).

7. To provide training & study Placements for young persons to learn gardening skills & wildlife care, and tuition in related subjects. (when circumstances & finances permit)

8. To help raise public awareness of wildlife issues & encourage others to cherish landscape and wildlife.

9. To help facilitate educational publications on subjects relevant to the Trust.

10. To encourage awareness of the spiritual garden philosophy of Stephen Cox.

11. To conserve the teachings and writings of Stephen Cox.

12. To undertake research of specialist topics.

13. To be an educational resource.

14. To nurture a love of Nature, Wildlife and Gardening and the need for conservation.

15. To develop wildlife habitats/sanctuaries in the garden and to encourage the same in the local community.

16. To also undertake wildlife audits in the garden and the local environment and lodge sightings with Wiltshire Biological Records Office.(when circumstances & finances permit)

17. To maintain and extend the Library .

18. To maintain a publicly accessible Website.

19. To undertake other educational and cultural activities and events providing these do not contradict the ethos of the trust or involve financial risk or liability.

20. To provide a teaching resource for local young people wherein the values of : education, self-improvement, community & citizenship, heritage & traditions, responsibility to the environment, protection of other creatures can be conveyed.(when circumstances & finances permit)

B. ACTIVITIES TO ACHIEVE GOALS :

1. To encourage individual donations from the public.

2. To offer access for private visiting groups with voluntary entry donations. (when circumstances & finances permit)

3. Modest plant sales .

4. To seek business sponsorship and donations.

5. To apply for grants.

6. To have a subscription society called The Garden Friends.

7. Fund raising events and occasional publication of small books.

 

5. Means to Achieve Goals and Activities

1. Designate the Founder as 'C.E.O. responsible for day to day running of the garden & the Trust.

2. For Stewards to be appointed ad hoc to voluntarilly.

3. For Assistants/Specialists to be appointed ad hoc to voluntarilly help run and teach the workshops, wildlife audits etc.

4. For individual Students age 18+ to be appointed ad hoc as Garden Volunteers to help maintain the garden whilst also receiving free of charge tuition and training.

5. For other part time and voluntary persons over the age of 18 to be appointed as voluntary Staff/Officers to run specialist events, projects, or generally help as the need arises.

6. To create residential study placements for students age 18-27 from various countries.

 

6. Ethos & Overview

The Trust seeks to maintain & improve the unique garden; conserve the library; & the art works & teachings/writing of Stephen Cox. The Trust and its founder also serves the local community with charitable programmes and teaching .

But it also offers on a broader perspective appreciation of and insights into heritage, history, philosophy, wildlife, body-mind harmony, conservation, art & culture for the improvement of human well-being.

The unusual GARDEN (which has been described by Lord Lansdowne as "an exciting space") includes: Orchard, Fish Pond, Waterfall, Beach, Statues, Woodland, Vegetable garden, Lawns, Hedges, meditation courtyard, Herbarium, 12 free standing Fountains, various flower collections/rooms (e.g. Alpines, Dianthus, Dwarf Conifers, Fuchsias, Begonias, Exotics, Coastal, Acers, Specimen Trees,and Cottage garden), Summerhouse/teaching room, 18 seating areas, Gymnasium, Greenhouse, several Patios, as well as paths and lawns and 7 large Pergola Arches (see Guide: document 6). It also has a Library of several thousand items; and a collection of Art works created by Stephen Ben Cox, additional to many teaching programmes, courses and guides created by him. The goals of the Trust as set out in its Constitution are to conserve, improve and maintain this Garden together with its Library, Stephen’s collection of art work as well as his writing and teachings. It engages in a number of charitable educational activities (see separate documents). It is hoping to establish placements to help young people and give them work experience. (see Studies page) As a charitable educational trust its guiding principles are : (a) for the public benefit without discrimination. (b) seeking to aid human improvement and well being. (c) whilst encouraging an understanding and respect for Nature and Wildlife and engage in community projects which will enhance this. (d) the above also being fulfilled by projects and activities which will conserve the garden, the library and art collection.

© 2017