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Northmoor Trust
4th March 2007
The award of a Heritage Lottery grant in June that year meant that plans for a facelift on several fronts could go ahead, not least the much-needed overhaul of its essential back office. With the subsequent stepping-up of activities on the Trust’s 300-hectare Little Wittenham estate in South Oxfordshire, the revamp of its existing IT infrastructure was crucial for successful expansion.
Local company, Riverbank IT Management, advised the charity on the change from a small unconnected network with a dial-up Internet link, to a server-based network with broadband Internet access. “They were also able to get rid of all their old mismatched computers and buy up-to-date equipment,” says Malcolm Newdick, Managing Director, Riverbank.
| “The main reason I like working with Riverbank is the continuing confidence I feel and the level of trust we’ve established. I know that if we have a problem, they will deal with it quickly and efficiently” |
With the advent of individual e-mail for all staff, including those operating in the field, and a speedier broadband Internet access, the Northmoor Trust has seen a huge improvement in both external and internal communications.
“As well as the benefits, which soon became apparent once we all had our own e mail addresses, the central storage of documents and a shared printer have also helped us to be considerably more organised,” confirms Angela Dearlove, Administration Manager.
The Northmoor Trust was set up in 1967 by Martin (now Sir Martin) and Audrey Wood, who started Oxford Instruments in 1959. In 1982 the Trust really kicked off with the purchase of Little Wittenham Wood, an area of peaceful beauty which included an Iron Age hill fort. Successful in outbidding a shooting syndicate, the Trust’s challenge was to turn the 300-hectare site into a wildlife sanctuary, as well as a place where trees and plants would be encouraged to flourish.
Twenty four years later, the Northmoor Trust manages an estate which includes Little Wittenham Nature Reserve, a conservation farm and new woodland dedicated to forestry research. It also promotes conservation through education in schools via its travelling Wild Waste Show. Since 2004 the charity has expanded by 30% and now employs 33 people, three of whom operate the administrative office in Little Wittenham.
The Northmoor Trust certainly attracts a lot of public interest. In 2005, for example, the nature reserve received over 150,000 visits. With a recent move to larger premises amongst newly developed listed barns in the village, Dearlove expects those numbers to further increase. “The setting up of Project Timescape, a history of landscape through the ages, as well as our new offices and other facilities in several listed barns, will be an added attraction,” she says. “The new education centre will explore the evolution of the landscape and be a stimulating hands-on experience for schools. We’re really getting through to kids just how important the conservation of the environment is and they, in many cases, are positively affecting their parents’ outlook.”
| "Working with another relatively small organisation known for its personal approach is just what we need" |
The move is definitely a positive expansion of the Trust’s brief and may well mean changes in its IT requirement over a period of time.
Dearlove stresses the importance and appeal of Riverbank’s flexible approach, particularly with no IT expert on site. “I’m certainly no expert, so I rely very much on Jamie, our account manager,” she continues. “He is on hand to discuss any changes we might need to make and always explains things in a very user-friendly way.
“The main reason I like working with Riverbank is the continuing confidence I feel and the level of trust we’ve established. I know that if we have a problem, they will deal with it quickly and efficiently,” she adds.
“We are not sure how the Trust’s expansion will impact on its IT development in future,” Newdick says. “However, the way we work means that we can make any changes as and when necessary. And with regular review meetings with the Trust we can provide the technical guidance and practical help they need.
“The key to our work here is wildlife and countryside conservation,” concludes Dearlove. “Our aim is to break down the barriers between town and country, where people live and the habitat that surrounds them. We want everyone to see that the choices they make directly effect what sort of countryside is created. It’s clear that we need a strong and reliable infrastructure suited to our needs in order to carry on this work. Working with another relatively small organisation known for its personal approach is just what we need.”
