When was the Northmoor Trust set up?
The Northmoor Trust was set up in 1967 by its patrons, Sir Martin and Audrey Wood. Since then it has expanded into a thriving organisation with over 30 full time staff engaged with ecology, estate management, forestry and education based at Little Wittenham.
The origins of the Northmoor Trust lie in a world very different from nature conservation. In 1959, Martin and Audrey Wood started Oxford Instruments, a company manufacturing specialist equipment needed for scientific research. However, the couple also had a strong interest in the countryside, forestry and wildlife.
In 1967 they set up the Northmoor Trust and endowed it with shares in Oxford Instruments. At the time these shares were worth very little – but when the company became successful Martin and Audrey were able to sell some of these shares, and their dreams were able to become reality.
Little Wittenham Nature Reserve
In 1982, Martin and Audrey Wood began looking for a wood to buy, the search proved difficult until they saw an advert in the Oxford Times for the auction of Little Wittenham Wood. The wood, steeped in history and with the potential to be turned into a wildlife sanctuary, was perfect! Their bid at auction secured them the wood and Little Wittenham Nature Reserve was established. Two years later, the famous Wittenham Clumps came up for sale and were added to the reserve.
As the Trust acquired further land around Little Wittenham the Trust’s team of staff expanded to include a full time Estate Manager, education team and a dedicated team of ecologists.
The move to Hill Farm
In 2006 the Trust moved from The Manor at Little Wittenham to the new sustainable timber framed offices at Hill Farm. Hill Farm has been through a massive transformation over the last five years and is now home to a complex of beautifully restored 19th century barns and Project Timescape, both part of a £3million Heritage Lottery Funded project.
