A community saving an important piece of history.

Our Story

Charitable aims

To preserve for the benefit of the people of Walton, Wakefield and the nation: the historic and architectural heritage of the wall and its immediate vicinity surrounding what was Charles Waterton’s nature reserve in Walton; and to educate the general public in the architecture, geography, natural and social history of the area of benefit.

Registered Charity Number: 1203426

Some milestones in our story:

February 2021 - Initial meeting by ‘Zoom’.
July 2021 - Unincorporated association constituted.
March 2022 - Public launch.
December 2022 - ‘A Stitch in Time’ launch.
June 2023 - We become a Registered Charity.
January/February 2024 - Ecological Appraisals of Site.
March 2024 - Historic England awards the wall listed building status and recognises the parkland as of historic importance as the first nature reserve in the world.
May 2024 - WMDC WordFest ‘Swapping Stories’– recording social history of parkland/hall.
May 2024 - Collaboration with Ali Bullivent, Singer/Song writer: ‘Walks and wildlife’.
September 2024 - Lime Mortar workshop.
September 2024 - National Heritage Open Days walks.
October 2024 - Article on ITV Calendar.
March 2025 - Inaugural Dinner Dance.
June – October 2025 - Lime Mortar workshops.
September 2025 - National Heritage Open Days walks.
October 2025 - Container to store equipment and materials obtained.
November 2025 - Robertson’s FM volunteers completed maintenance work.
December 2025 - A Community Payback team cleared fallen stone.
January 2026 - Area by preserved wall named ‘The Nest’.
March 2026 - Fundraising Lunch with Pat Langham CBE.
April 2026 - Two page spread in Wakefield Express.
April 2026 - World Premiere of the film ‘Radical Common Sense’.
May 2026 - WallFest 26 including Launch by the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire. (Click here for more information)

Historic England

In March 2024 the wall built by Charles Waterton was awarded Grade II listed building status and his parkland (Waterton Park) was registered as a park and garden at Grade II by Historic England.

Click on the links below to find out more:

https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/in-your-area/yorkshire/worlds-first-nature-reserve-given-protection/

https://historicengland.org.uk/