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our history

The Tubney Charitable Trust was created in 1997 by Mr Miles Blackwell, retired Chairman of Blackwell Limited, the Oxford-based bookseller. His wife Briony was an original trustee of the Trust. Miles and Briony Blackwell shared a great love of the countryside and animals, as well as a concern for the environment, and supported many charities during their lives to further their interests.

Miles and Briony died unexpectedly in 2001, at 56 and 46 respectively. Following the subsequent bequest of their estate to the Charity, the Trust grew substantially in size. Since that time, the Trustees have sought to fund areas which they believe Miles and Briony would have supported. In accordance with the wishes of the founders, the Charity has a limited life and is gradually spending down its endowment. The Trust seeks to support projects that achieve sustainable, significant and meaningful benefits that endure beyond the life of the Trust. Miles and Briony’s endowment to The Tubney Charitable Trust ensures that many important projects will benefit from their generosity.

 

Miles and Briony Blackwell
photograph of Miles and Briony Blackwell

Miles Blackwell
Miles Blackwell began his career with a variety of apprenticeships in the family firm of Blackwell Limited, the world famous Oxford-based bookseller. Subsequently, Miles was charged by his father with developing the international interests of the firm. This he did with outstanding success and became first Sales and Marketing Director and later Chairman, a role he retained until retirement in 1997. Miles was essentially a shy man but with a strong sense of humour and uncompromising integrity. He had a great love of countryside, the sea and naval and military history. He was at heart a traditionalist but had a passion for the benefits that new technologies could bring.


Briony Blackwell
Briony had a lifelong interest in and love of the natural world and chose to study for a degree in Environmental Biology. Her marriage to Miles Blackwell was a romance between two traditionally-minded people. She supported Miles in his work at home and abroad and in the local community. She continued her interest in environmental matters including the preservation of rare breeds and running a small flock of Manx Lochtan sheep. Together she and Miles put much energy into the development of the grounds of their homes. Once Miles retired, the couple preferred to spend time either at their countryside home outside Oxford or at their cottage on the Isle of Wight.

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recent grants

Welfare of Farmed Animals

 

University of Bristol

Reducing lameness in dairy cattle by implementing existing knowledge

Grant up to £650,000

This video clip shows a stockman calmly walking his cows back to pasture after milking. As with other UK dairy herds, some cows (such as the last cow on the left) are showing signs of lameness. This highlights that even the best herdsmen can struggle to avoid lameness.


Credit: University of Bristol

Our grant was awarded to support the University's project which aims to deliver a significant reduction in lameness in dairy cattle in the UK herd working with farmers, veterinary advisers and milk producers to apply scientific knowledge to current commercial systems to prevent and control lameness in dairy cattle.

If you have difficulty playing the video you may need windows media player which is available here (broadband connection recommended)

www.vetschool.bris.ac.uk/research/abw (pop-up window)
www.cattle-lameness.org.uk (pop-up window)

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Farm Animal Welfare Trust (FAWT)

Novel commercial broiler genetic selection techniques integrating welfare and production traits

Grant up to £1,537,500
Overall project budget £4,742,496

image credit: FAI Farms Ltd

Credit: FAI Farms Ltd

Our grant was awarded to an ambitious, large-scale project aiming to develop and test a genetic selection process that focuses on efficient chicken meat production as well as the welfare of the animal and which will ultimately influence breeding. The aim is then to test the results commercially and bring the changes to the marketplace.

The project will be carried out through a partnership with FAI Farms Ltd and the Department of Zoology, Oxford University.

www.faifarms.co.uk (pop-up window)
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~snikwad/index.html (pop-up window)

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Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)

Develop and produce a commercially viable system which meets the welfare needs of commercially farmed ducks by providing them with water

Grant up to £1,221,068
Overall project budget £6,723,026



Standard duck shed with nipple drinkers which are typically provided to commercially-farmed ducks and are their only source of water

Our grant will support this ambitious project which aims to work with key players across the food chain to deliver a significant welfare improvement for commercially farmed ducks by ensuring the provision of water facilities that allow proper expression of key natural behaviours. This will be achieved by applying the RSPCA’s ‘problem/solution’ farm animal welfare investment model, which integrates knowledge, industry support and consumer pressure, all of which are necessary to achieve real change in the food industry.

www.rspca.org.uk (pop-up window)

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Compassion in World Farming (CIWF)

Core and business planning costs for the Farmed Animal Welfare Forum

Grant up to £120,000

The Trust has facilitated the creation of the Farmed Animal Welfare Forum, an informal forum consisting of influential farmed animal welfare organisations, scientists concerned with improving farmed animal welfare, and representatives of the food industry and certifying bodies. Compassion in World Farming is responsible for managing the grant for the FAW Forum.

The FAW Forum has developed a working document for a co-ordinated 10 year strategic plan to effect large-scale, long-term and sustainable improvements in the welfare of farmed animals. To download a copy of the Forum’s 10 year strategic plan, please click here Forum’s 10 year strategic plan. Please send any comments and suggestions on the strategic plan directly to Roland Bonney, Chair of the Farm Animal Welfare Forum. roland.bonney@faifarms.co.uk

Our grant provides support for the development of the Farmed Animal Welfare Forum, in the form of core and business planning costs, in order to strengthen the Forum for the future.

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University of Bristol

Reducing injurious pecking amongst layer hens by implementing existing knowledge.

Grant up to £868,295
Overall project budget £1,631,571

image credit: Chris Sherwin

Credit: Chris Sherwin

Our grant was awarded to a large-scale project designed to make a quantifiable reduction in injurious pecking amongst the UK’s estimated 30 million laying hens. The project proposes to utilise existing knowledge to develop a practical, cost effective husbandry advisory package which will be made available to egg producers and their advisors, and will identify the most appropriate husbandry solutions for each individual farm.

The project is led by the world-renowned Animal Behaviour and Welfare Group at the University of Bristol, recognised as a centre of excellence in animal welfare. Partners include key and influential players in the poultry industry as study participants and steering group members.

www.vetschool.bris.ac.uk/research/abw (pop-up window)

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World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)

Towards a global campaign against the long distance transport of animals for slaughter.

Grant up to £100,000
Overall project budget £528,800

image credit: WSPA

Credit: WSPA

The WSPA is the world’s largest federation of animal welfare societies and works to raise the standards for animal welfare throughout the world.

Our grant was awarded towards the cost of the first year of a global campaign against the long distance transport of animals for slaughter. WSPA is coordinating this international coalition of 11 leading, reputable and experienced animal welfare organisations known publicly as the “Handle with Care” campaign.

www.wspa.org.uk (pop-up window)
www.handlewithcare.tv (pop-up window)

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Conservation of the Natural Environment

 

 

Devon Wildlife Trust

Towards the “Natural Networks – Working Wetlands on the Culm” project.

Grant up to £500,000
Overall project budget £1,401,049

image credit: DWT

Credit: Devon Wildlife Trust

Our grant supports work to improve the condition of nationally important UK BAP habitats of Culm grassland and wet woodland in Northwest Devon. Through the provision of specialist services to landowners and managers, the project will restore the ecosystem function of these vital wetlands by restoring degraded habitat, recreating lost habitat and establishing links and corridors between. The project will benefit UK BAP priority species such as the marsh fritillary butterfly, otter, dormouse, skylark and freshwater pearl mussel.

www.devonwildlifetrust.org (pop-up window)

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Staffordshire Wildlife Trust

Towards the “flower-rich meadow heritage of northeast Staffordshire” project.

Grant up to £132,150
Overall project budget £365,635

image credit: Colin Hayes

Credit: Colin Hayes

Staffordshire's location, at the northern or southern extremes of the ranges of many species, is one of the reasons for its rich and diverse flora and fauna. Our grant to Staffordshire Wildlife Trust was to support strategic work to create, restore and link significant areas of a variety of grassland habitats. Through the provision of advice to landowners, the existing areas of habitats will be brought into favourable condition and sustainably managed for the future. The UK BAP priority habitats of lowland calcareous grassland, lowland meadows and dry acid grassland will benefit along with their associated UK BAP priority species. 

www.staffordshirewildlife.org.uk (pop-up window)

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North Highlands Forest Trust

Towards the “Far North Coppice-Forestry” project.

Grant up to £98,849
Overall project budget £229,882

image credit: NHFT

Credit: North Highlands Forest Trust

The far north of Scotland may appear to the visitor as a pristine habitat. However, this is far from the reality. Woodland in this part of the UK has been reduced significantly over the centuries, particularly through the use of fire and agriculture, with perhaps the most significant current threat being from over-grazing. The fragments which remain are of immense biodiversity importance for a range of UKBAP priority species. Our grant was awarded to support work to reduce the fragmentation of key woodland habitats in Caithness and Sutherland and promote the delivery of appropriate woodland management to ensure more sustainable and biodiversity focussed forestry in the future. The UK BAP priority habitats of upland birchwoods, upland oakwood, wet woodland, upland mixed ashwoods and native pine woodland will benefit along with a wide-ranging list of UK BAP priority species including the scottish wood ant, spotted flycatcher, black grouse, dark-bordered beauty moth, twinflower, one-flowered wintergreen, otter and red squirrel.

www.nhft.org.uk (pop-up window)

 

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The Woodland Trust

Towards the purchase and restoration of Brede High Woods, Sussex.

Grant up to £750,000
Overall project budget £2,685,520

image credit: Colin Varndell

Credit:
WTPL/Colin Varndell

Our grant contributed towards the purchase and large-scale restoration of Brede High Woods in the Sussex High Weald AONB, one of the largest concentrations of ancient woodland in the country. The project will restore 263 hectares to a mosaic of woodland and associated habitats, including UK BAP priorities lowland heathland and lowland dry acid grassland, and will benefit such UK BAP priority species as the dormouse, pipistrelle bat, water vole, great crested newt, turtle dove, spotted flycatcher, pearl-bordered fritillary, white admiral, dingy skipper and grizzled skipper.

www.woodland-trust.org.uk (pop-up window)

 

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Vale Landscape Trust

Towards the purchase, restoration and management of Hipton Hill Orchard, Worcestershire.

Grant up to £70,000
Overall project budget £239,354

image credit: VLHT

Credit: VLHT

Hipton Hill Orchard is a traditional orchard in the Vale of Evesham, where this land use was historically widespread. As with other similar fruit-growing areas, the loss of orchards has been dramatic over the second half of the 20th century. The Vale Landscape Trust was set up to save such rapidly diminishing pockets of traditional countryside that are left in the Vale of Evesham.

Our grant contributed towards the purchase of 28 hectares of traditional orchard. With Hipton Hill being of an exceptionally large size and the site containing the additional UK BAP priority habitat of lowland calcareous grassland, the land purchased with the assistance of our grant is of significant biodiversity value. UK BAP priority species such as the noble chafer, bullfinch and skylark are likely to benefit from the acquisition and subsequent management of the orchard. 

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/valetrust (pop-up window)

 

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Suffolk Wildlife Trust

Towards the “Dunwich Forest Wood Pasture” project.

Grant £61,446
Overall project budget £163,420

image credit: Steve Aylward

Credit: Steve Aylward

Suffolk Wildlife Trust cares for over 50 wildlife rich nature reserves throughout the county. Our grant contributed towards the restoration and management of 260 hectares of land in an area of the Suffolk coast with a complex of sites of national and international importance. The short-term restoration and longer-term re-creation work on the land will increase the area of UK BAP priority habitat of wood pasture, link existing fragmented habitats and enlarge the area of the coast under conservation management. A wide range of UK BAP priority species will benefit including adder, grass snake, common lizard, nightjar, turtle dove, woodlark, song thrush, linnet, spotted flycatcher, lunar yellow underwing moth, white letter hairstreak and grayling butterflies, pipistrelle bat and hedgehog.

www.suffolkwildlife.co.uk (pop-up window)

 

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past grants

To download a list of grants made in the year ending March 2008
please click here past grants 2008 (pdf 44k)

To download a list of grants made in the year ending March 2007
please click here past grants 2007 (pdf 44k)

To download a list of grants made in the year ending March 2006
please click here past grants 2006 (pdf 25k)

To download a list of grants made in the year ending March 2005
please click here past grants 2005 (pdf 20k)

annual report and accounts

To download a copy of The Tubney Charitable Trust’s Annual Report year ending 31 March 2008 please click here annual report 2008.pdf (pdf 168K)

To download a copy of The Tubney Charitable Trust’s Annual Report year ending 31 March 2007 please click here annual report 2007.pdf (pdf 86K)

To download a copy of The Tubney Charitable Trust’s Annual Report year ending 31 March 2006 please click here annual report 2006.pdf (pdf 86K)

To download a copy of The Tubney Charitable Trust’s Annual Report year ending 31 March 2005 please click here annual report 2005.pdf (pdf 86K)

To download a copy of The Tubney Charitable Trust’s Annual Report year ending 31 March 2004 please click here annual report 2004.pdf (pdf 56K)


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