Membership
St. Helen’s Park Preservation Society – New membership scheme
We are delighted to be launching a new annual membership scheme for people who want to help protect and preserve the St. Helen’s Woods nature reserve in Hastings.
Why become a member?
Whether you regularly walk in the woods, care about nature, or simply enjoy living near such a peaceful and beautiful place, the charity relies on the continuing support of people like you who care about the woods.
For many years, the charity offered a Life Membership scheme. Many of our much valued and committed life members continue to support the charity. However, the scheme has not been in operation for some time, so people who would like to support St. Helen’s Woods and become members have not been able to do so.
A broad membership of supporters who contribute a modest amount each year will help the charity continue its work in maintaining and protecting the reserve. The more members we have, the stronger we are in protecting St. Helen’s Woods from development.
Your annual contribution will also help fund essential work to maintain the reserve, bringing in ecologists and professional help where needed. This help is needed more than ever as a result of climate change and human intervention.
As a member, you are also entitled to come along and vote at the AGM.
Protect St Helen’s Woods – join us today.
Join our community of supporters and become a member today.
The new membership scheme
We are introducing a new annual membership scheme, with a contribution of £20 per year or £2 per month. Members will be invited to attend the AGM, receive early access to our quarterly e-newsletter, and take part in events connected with the reserve. Members can also vote including the election of trustees.
We warmly encourage and invite all existing life members to join the new annual scheme. By doing so, you can be reassured that you will providing the reliable, ongoing support that the charity needs to care for and protect the woods for the future.
We are also considering other types of membership and would value any feedback.
How to join
Joining the membership scheme is easy and straightforward.
Please follow this link.
Your membership will auto-renew every year unless cancelled.
If for whatever reason you would prefer to join without the need for an email address or online banking, please get in touch via our contact page.
Further information for life members
We have been advised that life membership schemes are generally no longer recommended for charities of this size, and also, that the St. Helen’s Park Preservation Society life membership scheme, set up in the 1960’s, is not practical for a modern charity. Because they rely on a single payment made many years ago, life memberships do not provide the reliable, ongoing support that charities need. Over time, inflation also means that the value of historic contributions becomes much smaller.
When the charity’s constitution was established in 1966, the intention was that life members would both pay a one-off life membership fee and continue to contribute a small annual amount. As far as we know, this has not been implemented for many years.
We value all our life members who have been part of the charity for a long time. All life members are encouraged to join the new scheme. Life members who prefer not to join the new scheme will, of course, retain their right to attend the AGM.
How else can you support the charity?
There are many ways for passionate individuals to support the work of the society and help protect the nature reserve in the meantime.
Anyone can donate to the charity at any time, visit the Donate page for more information – why not consider setting up a regular donation?
Become a volunteer, a committee member, or a trustee.
Please get in touch HERE.
A regular donation is a great way to support the work of the charity
Support St. Helen’s Woods
Your donation helps us safeguard the nature reserve, support conservation projects, and keep St Helen’s Woods thriving for everyone to enjoy.
Join our Mailing List
Sign up to our mailing list and we’ll send you an occasional newsletter with the latest news, information about fundraising and volunteering, and how you can help us protect and preserve St. Helen’s Woods