THE TEAM behind the community purchase of the iconic Heavens Valley is on an urgent mission to raise the final £30,000 needed to fund the initial purchase.

Contracts have to be exchanged by the end of October.

In the last two months, £270,000 of the £300,000 needed to clinch the deal has been raised, through donations and share sales.

A further £550,000 of the total £850,000 cost is being loaned by two committed members of the local community. But that leaves £30,000 still to be raised before contracts can be exchanged.

Martin Whiteside, one of the Heavens Valley Community Benefit Society team, said: "We are at an absolutely pivotal stage.  

“The current landowner has accepted the community offer but the sale needs to be completed in early November.

"We urge everyone who has pledged money to fulfil their pledges if they can and we ask everyone else who can afford to, to help and donate urgently.

“One of the kind people supporting the purchase with a loan has stepped up to offer £5,000 in match funding at this stage.

"And we have received a further £10,000 in match funding from another generous individual - so every £1 raised from the community is, in effect, doubled so the target can be reached.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring a major piece of land into community ownership to enable nature recovery and community access in perpetuity.

"We are so close to achieving this; we just need that £30,000 to get us across the line.”

Donations can be made at https://www.heavensvalley.org.uk/donate and shares bought at https://www.heavensvalley.org.uk/donate/#shareholder