Gateway to Nature project construction FAQ’s
About the Project
What is Gateway to Nature?
Through the Gateway to Nature project, we will take significant steps toward connecting more people with the natural world through a new visitor’s hub, an improved access route, expanded parking and a new outdoor play experience.
Through our plans for a new Gateway to Nature, we have the chance to reach more people, deepen our impact and inspire future generations to care for the natural world.
What is being built as part of this project?
Phase 1 was completed in 2021 and included the construction of Earth Lab (our education building) and the refurbishment of Fison Barn, which contains meeting spaces and a welcome space.
Phase 2 will involve:
- A new visitor hub
Earth Trust’s visitor centre will be expanded to provide a visitor hub including a seven-day-a-week café with delicious hot and cold food to keep everyone fuelled up for the outdoors. This will offer a clear starting point for visits into nature, and I hope many will enjoy the new walking routes that will take people to see hidden gems such as the Broad Arboretum.
One of our new paths runs past recent tree planting that demonstrates how the integration of trees into the farming system can support greater biodiversity and climate adaptation. In years to come, we will be able to harvest fruit and nuts from the orchard trees to share with you in our café.
- Improved parking and access
We are creating a new vehicle access track to Earth Trust’s visitor hub, up from Sires Hill, to reduce traffic on the narrow lane that currently runs past the Earth Trust Centre. This track will lead to expanded parking facilities and bike shelters. These additions will make it easier for visitors – from school groups to weekend walkers – to access our site safely, as well as protect the landscape. We will close public access to the existing Centre car park via Hollow Way.
- A new outdoor play experience
We will offer a new paid-access adventure play-scape for families with children to explore, play and begin a lifetime of enjoying time in nature. The adventure play will blend into the wider landscape drawing on the beauty of our natural setting and heritage. Most importantly, it will be a place to have fun, to inspire visitors to explore more widely and to start on their journey connecting with nature.
Although we have existing planning permission for a further car park, amphitheatre and play barns, we have no plans to construct them.
Why is this project happening, and why now?
We are improving access to this landscape so more people can enjoy it safely and sustainably. The existing access, parking and visitor facilities are no longer fit for purpose, and visitor pressure has increased.
Now is the right time because we have secured funding, completed the necessary surveys and design work, and aligned this project with our long-term land management and visitor experience strategy.
Is this work covered by existing planning permissions?
Most of the works are covered by existing planning consents but there are a range of conditions that are in place before construction can begin, or an area can be used. These include explaining how we will manage drainage across the site or how we’re preventing or minimising harm to the environment. These will be considered by South Oxfordshire District Council planning officers in the usual way.
To the east of the area, we have existing consent for three roundhouses and associated landscaping. Unfortunately, these proposals are not viable. When thinking about how we can better use this area for play, nature and families, and how to generate funds for our work, we identified the need for different types of structures and a different design. It assumes no more visitors than previously imagined but would be a much better experience. This evolved design will be subject to a planning variation.
Are there any new planning applications?
No. We have planning discharges and one proposed planning variation but we have no plans for any new application.
Who is funding this project?
The project is funded through a combination of Earth Trust’s assets, charitable fundraising, grant funding, and contributions secured specifically for improving nature-based access and visitor experience.
Why are you building a playground?
Play is one of the most effective ways for children to connect with nature. Many families currently don’t engage with the site because there is no dedicated, safe space for younger children to explore. A nature-led play space encourages curiosity, outdoor learning, and lifelong love of this landscape.
We have been working with an adventure play specialist to design an experience that is immersive, respectful of this landscape. Most importantly it will be fun. The paid-for access will help us generate new funds to better secure the longer-term financial viability of Earth Trust.
How does this project help Earth Trust’s long-term vision?
It supports our vision of inspiring people to care for nature. It makes the landscape more accessible but proactively managed to balance the needs of visitors and nature. It enables us to generate much-needed funds to diversify our income. Better infrastructure means we can welcome people allowing us to minimise harm to habitats or surrounding farmland.
Access & Impact During Construction
When will construction start and how long will it last?
Construction is expected to begin in February 2026 and last for up to six months. We will publish clearer timelines once the contractor programme is confirmed.
Will there be road closures, construction traffic, or noise?
Construction traffic will use designated routes, and work will be scheduled during standard daytime hours to minimise disturbance. Some noise is unavoidable, but we will follow strict construction-management requirements to keep this to a minimum – including no noisy work before 8am and no work on weekends unless we are behind schedule.
With Oxfordshire County Council’s permission there will be a time-limited lane closure on Sires Hill, facilitated with traffic lights, to allow the safe removal of the hedgerow before nesting season and create the new vehicle entrance. Dates of this will be shared once the final construction programme is known.
How will access to the site be affected during construction?
Construction is anticipated to begin at Sires Hill and move up towards the Centre – meaning all construction vehicles are currently planned to enter/exit via the new entrance for the duration of the works. During construction, there will be an increase in HGVs on nearby roads to facilitate deliveries and the removal of waste. We anticipate visitors will park in the usual way at the Clumps car park or at the Centre during construction. There are no plans to divert any footpaths during or after construction.
Who is doing the work?
Earth Trust will appoint a contractor who will manage a range of subcontractors to undertake the works. Once the final set of contractors have been appointed, we will share further information from them.
Will the site be fully closed at any point?
No. If a short closure of a specific path or small area becomes unavoidable for safety reasons – such as during heavy machinery movements or surfacing works – it will be kept as brief as possible and communicated in advance.
What are you doing to reduce disruption to wildlife and local residents?
Our aim is to carry out the works responsibly while protecting the character and tranquillity of the landscape during construction. Works will be timed to avoid periods for breeding birds and are only currently due to take place Monday- Friday.
How will you manage mud, dust, and safety during construction?
Contractors will use strict controls to keep the site safe and tidy, including regular inspections, and traffic management plans. Once the final set of contractors have been appointed we will share further information from them.
Environmental Protection
What are you doing to protect wildlife, trees, and hedgerows?
Earth Trust has over 40 years of experience managing land for people and nature, enhancing habitats, improving outcomes for wildlife and biodiversity. All of the planned works have been informed by independent ecological surveys. Sensitive areas are being avoided wherever possible, and protective buffers will be used around hedgerows, tree root zones, and known wildlife habitats. Construction timing will consider nesting and breeding seasons.
New swales will manage water flow and create new habitats alongside the track, leading to a new balancing pond alongside Sires Hill.
Are you allowed to do this work in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)?
Yes. We have to carefully balance different pressures in this landscape, with our planning consents based on stakeholder engagement, planning guidance and our ability to deliver infrastructure improvements that make the best use of our resources. We are proud to be in what is now called the North Wessex Downs National Landscape – our aim is to enhance people’s experience of the landscape while protecting the very qualities that make it special.
Will any hedgerows or trees be removed?
Around 150m of the 25km hedgerows we manage have to be cut down. This is to create a visibility splay (an area of land at a junction that ensures drivers can clearly see and be seen by other road users) required for cars leaving the site onto Sires Hill. Already this winter we have planted more hedgerows than will be removed due to this project.
At the conclusion of the works, further tree planting and hedgerow establishment will take place.
How are you designing the project to fit in with the landscape?
Materials, colour palettes and forms have been chosen to blend with the rural setting. The layout follows existing field boundaries and topography to reduce visual impact, and new planting will help the car park and track settle naturally into the landscape.
Practical Questions
How will this affect local traffic?
Access to the Earth Trust Centre via Hollow Way will stop for visitors when the new track opens – leading to a substantial reduction in traffic coming through Little Wittenham village.
For people that have always parked by Day’s Lock or the Clumps Car Park, we anticipate they will initially continue to park there but the new access track, café and reliable car parking will encourage these visitors to change their parking habits.
Will the number of visitors increase significantly?
We expect modest growth due to it being easier to visit and park, alongside the improved facilities and new walking routes, but not a major increase. The project is primarily designed to better manage existing visits and respond to local population growth.
How will you make sure this doesn’t spoil the peace and quiet of the area?
We have thought a lot about how to maintain the things that people love about this landscape in the design and wider plans for the land we manage here. The aim is a high-quality, nature-based visitor experience, not a high-intensity attraction. Our project Gateway to Nature is about access to the wider landscape. While the area around the Earth Trust Centre will be busier – we are actively installing new paths and designing new routes to disperse visitors.
Were local communities consulted before the plans were approved?
Yes. Local residents, parish councils, and partners engaged in early design workshops and statutory consultation during the planning process. Feedback directly shaped things such as the location of the car park, where planting is permitted and the scale of the facilities.
How can I give feedback or ask a different question?
We welcome feedback on how we collectively care and manage this wonderful landscape. Specific queries or questions on this project are best sent to our Project Lead, Dave Lewis, Director of Operations who lives in Didcot with his family and is on site every day – [email protected].
Visitor Experience
How will I access the playground?
Parking will be via the new car park or improved trails across our landscape and accessed via the existing paths through the Centre buildings.
What facilities will be available?
Gateway to nature is about getting people used to coming into rural settings such as ours, so the Centre buildings will have toilets, baby changing, a café open at times to meet customer demand and a paid-for nature playscape.
Will your plans make it more inclusive for people with disabilities or buggies?
Yes. Inclusive access is a core design principle – gentle gradients, accessible parking bays, firm and level paths, and clear signage will make the site easier for everyone to use.
Are you keeping existing walking routes and views?
Yes. All existing public paths will be maintained, and key views toward the Clumps and across the farmland will remain open. Some routes may be temporarily diverted during construction, but access will be maintained.
When will it open?
Our current programme assumes that the track, car park and café are able to open in summer 2026 followed by the nature playscape shortly after. During construction, there will continue to be events, activities and parking at the Centre.
What will happen with the Clumps car park?
The Clumps car park will remain open. The new gateway provides an additional, safer access point and helps spread visitor pressure across the wider landscape.
This page will be updated regularly as new information becomes available – and we’ll make it obvious where we we have added new information.
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