Richard Jefferies (1848-1887): Jefferies Land Conservation Trust

The Story of My Heart, 1883

CHAPTER I: THE STORY OF MY HEART [published Oct. 1883] commences seventeen years ago. In the glow of youth there were times every now and then when I felt the necessity of a strong inspiration of soul thought. My heart was dusty, parched for want of the rain of deep feeling; my mind arid and dry, for there is a dust which settles on the heart as well as that which falls on a ledge. ... When this began to form I felt eager to escape from it, to throw off the heavy clothing, to drink deeply once more at the fresh fountains of life. An inspiration―a long deep breath of the pure air of thought―could alone give health to the heart. There is a hill [Liddington] to which I used to resort at such periods. The labour of walking three miles to it, all the while gradually ascending, seemed to clear my blood of the heaviness accumulated at home. On a warm summer day the slow continued rise required continual effort, which carried away the sense of oppression.... I began to breathe a new air and to have a fresher aspiration. ... Moving up the sweet short turf, at every step my heart seemed to obtain a wider horizon of feeling; with every inhalation of rich pure air, a deeper desire. The very light of the sun was whiter and more brilliant here. By the time I had reached the summit I had entirely forgotten the petty circumstances and the annoyances of existence. I felt myself, myself.

The Jefferies Land Conservation Trust was established in September 2005 in response to a particular major development proposal aimed at changing the character of the unique countryside east and south of Coate Water Site of Special Scientific Interest near Swindon in Wiltshire. This followed another development plan that led to the creation of the Save Coate! campaign.

The Trust's aim was to protect and enhance this special landscape, set in the foothills of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Why ‘Jefferies Land'?

Richard Jefferies [1848-1887], one of England's most individual writers on nature and the countryside, was born and bred at Coate. The surrounding area inspired much of his work produced during a tragically short life. Jefferies' old house at Coate, now a Museum, is dedicated to his memory.

‘Jefferies Land' is a special place and a beauty spot much loved by many generations of Swindonians. Under constant threat by developers, this insecurity needed to be removed once and for all.

Prof W J Keith, in his critical study of Richard Jefferies published in 1965, wrote:

We call the region around Coate farmhouse ‘Jefferies' Land' not merely because it was the country about which he wrote but because, in a very real sense, it was the country that he himself created. He has taught us to view it as nearly as possible with his eyes which, we are ready to admit, are keener than our own…. It is not only that we see with Jefferies' eyes; what we see with and through them is his own personal vision.

Read here

The Trust's vision for ‘Jefferies Land' would have placed Swindon squarely on the map as a literary heritage site, a place for visitors to enjoy a special rural climate, a wildlife haven and a centre for study of the environment and historic landscapes. The main elements were to:

1) maintain the rural landscape setting of Coate Water

2) enhance the biodiversity of Coate Water Site of Special Scientific Interest and the nature reserves at Coate Water, Day House Copse and Burderop Wood North

3) provide a centre to study and appreciate literary landscapes as an inspiration to UK writers with a special focus on Richard Jefferies' key role in this evolution

4) demonstrate traditional crafts and environmentally sensitive alternatives that reduce man's impact on the land

5) feature the archaeological qualities of the area

6) provide educational opportunities for local people related to an appreciation of nature and living in harmony with it.

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It was inevitable that this landscape would be impossible to save from the persistant pressures (30 years of planning applications!) to build on it. But the Trust did their best! And it would be good to archive some material for posterity to show how much people cared. There is an archive (below) of Annual Reports up until the time the Trust decided to dissolve the charity in June 2013. There is also a copy of the final evidence that Jean Saunders presented to the Planning Inspector in October 2011. It was that decision that sealed the fate to build hundreds of houses there.