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Future of Suffolk Punch Stud at Hollesley Bay secured

The Suffolk Punch Trust, a registered charity which was formed in 2002, has exercised its option with The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) -previously known as H M Prison Service – to buy the Stud and surrounding land at Hollesley. The actual purchase is due to be completed by 1st April 2006.

Included in the purchase price are the existing stables, agricultural farm buildings, 180 acres of land, the stud of horses, their harness and other equipment.

By exercising the previously negotiated option to purchase the site and the horses, the Suffolk Punch Trust has taken a major step forward in its plans to create an education and heritage centre using the horses and this unique area as the “basic canvas” for delivering a wide range of educational programmes involving conservation, the environment and the rural heritage, as well as providing practical training in rural craft skills and animal management.

Creating a visitor attraction will generate the income required to maintain the operation at Hollesley and this in turn will increase the number of jobs available and help revive this rural area by fostering eco-tourism and encouraging inward investment. The public will also have greater access to the horses and the 180 acres of land will provide an area for people to enjoy and careful landscaping will increase biodiversity.

Philip Ryder-Davies, Chairman of the Suffolk Punch Trust said, “failure to obtain Heritage Lottery funding has undoubtedly made our task more difficult. However, the Trust is determined to achieve its aims of creating an exciting and interesting visitor attraction which includes, a wide range of educational and training programmes many targeted at socially deprived young people. The part played by the horses in prisoner resettlement will also continue and expand. The Trust now urgently needs financial support to keep the operation going until the infrastructure is in place which will accommodate paying visitors”.

John Marsh, Project Manager for the Trust, said, “our plans are to build the visitor facility in stages over the next 3/5 years as grant money and other income is secured to pay the capital costs”. Meanwhile, from 1st April 2006 the Trust will be responsible for all the operating costs at the stud and in response to the offers of support for the project, ‘FRIENDS OF THE SUFFOLK PUNCH TRUST’ is now launched. The annual subscription will be £20 and details can be obtained from the Trust’s registered office Wren House, Manor Farm, Bridgham, NR16 2RX. Donations are also welcome and a leaflet and gift aid form is available from this address”.

For more information visit the Trust website and contact:

John Marsh, Project Manager
Sufolk Punch Trust Limited
Telephone 01473 612639
Email: johnr.marsh@btopenworld.com

Or

Philip Ryder-Davies
Chairman of Trustees
Camping Close
Wickham Market
Woodbridge IP13 OSG
Telephone: 01728 746534
Email: pryderdavies@hotmail.com

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