The Friends of St Ives Estate is a voluntary body formed in 2003 from interested members of the general public and other interested parties. It is a non-political group, affiliated to the Trust for Conservation Volunteers.
Our aims & objectives
Projects & funding
To develop projects and events, in partnership with or with the knowledge of the landowners, and to apply for grants and other funding to carry these out.
A voice for users
To liaise with other users of the Estate and to help represent their interests.
Conserve & enhance
To work to conserve and enhance the ecological, historic and landscape values of the estate and its environs.
Safe & well-kept
To notify the landowners when any hazards or problems become apparent, and to assist in their resolution.
Alongside the landowners
To liaise with the landowners in the care and maintenance of the Estate.
Sharing our heritage
To preserve, interpret and publicise the cultural, historical and ecological value of the Estate.
Hands on, every fortnight
The Friends of St Ives Practical Task Team meets fortnightly and carries out tasks and projects around the estate. Last winter we helped to plant over a hundred trees, alongside Bradford Council — mainly Hazel and Oaks along the pathway and the hillside going up towards Lady Blantyre's Rock.
We started a Victorian-style border garden in 2023 on the walled part of the Long Walk, with funds from filming on the Estate for the BBC series Boat Story, and are developing the area alongside as a stumpery and fernery.
