Watchtree Nature Reserve
- Introduction
- A plan for a nature reserve emerges
- Factors in the formation of Watchtree
- Watchtree, and Enterprising Communities, and DEFRA
- The nature and intensity of support for Watchtree
- The story from Anne Cunningham, of Enterprising Communities
- The company structure of Watchtree Nature Reserve
- Social and Economic Impact
- Conclusion
Download this report as a pdf document 
Download report as a Word documentThe nature and intensity of support for Watchtree
Asked to identify the nature of support received from Enterprising Communities over the course of the project’s development period, Bill Knowles states that the support from Enterprising Communities took two distinct forms. The first was advice and help over the phone designed to build the group’s confidence and capacity to deliver. This support was constant when needed. The second was attendance at structured meetings and workshops designed to test, explore and formulate business planning. Bill estimated that this second process probably took no more than five days of the Development Worker’s time in all, but stressed the importance of this time spent together. He noted that there were two rounds of structured meetings and workshops. On the first occasion, they were necessary for the transition of the group from a protest group to an organisation: the group was asked by Enterprising Communities to identify what it was they wanted to achieve, what their values were, etc. On the second occasion, when the group had obtained DEFRA’s backing, the workshops and meetings were held to re-confirm where we were at and to involve new people in drawing up the Business Plan’.
Asked to consider other benefits that Enterprising Communities involvement may have had for the Watchtree project, Bill identifies knowledge and expertise, and the kudos and sense of legitimacy that accrues from Enterprising Communities’ high reputation in the field of rural economic development.
