The Friends of The Commons

FRIENDS OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS
 AND RUSTHALL COMMONS

The Commons are currently for sale

The Friends submitted a community bid and remain ready should circumstances change. Over 3,000 residents have pledged support.

Learn more about the sale and the community bid.
The community bid attracted coverage from The Guardian, The BBC and The Telegraph.

Welcome

The Friends of Tunbridge Wells & Rusthall Commons are a local registered charity working alongside the Commons Conservators to care for the Commons.

The Commons were recently put up for sale, creating a rare opportunity to secure community ownership. The Friends submitted a carefully prepared community bid reflecting both the unique legal status of the Commons and the responsibilities that come with their stewardship.

Considering ownership of the Commons?
View key legal, planning and environmental facts relevant to ownership →

The Friends remain committed to community ownership and stand ready should circumstances change.

If you want to know more about the sale, the community bid and community ownership please read our Sale FAQs. If you would like to speak to someone directly, you are very welcome to contact John Barber at johnspbarber@gmail.com.

Alongside this work, The Friends continue to support practical conservation through fundraising and volunteer projects including path restoration, habitat management and the purchase of tools and equipment. Together, we help protect this unique landscape at the heart of our town.

"I support local efforts to buy the common. "
- Dale Vince OBE, Founder of Ecotricity

“The Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons are unique natural spaces at the heart of the town. Securing them in community ownership would help ensure they continue to thrive for wildlife and remain inspiring places for future generations.”
- Jenny Scholfield, Regional Director, The Woodland Trust

"I support The Friends' initiative to purchase the Commons on behalf of the community".
- Mike Martin, Member of Parliament for Tunbridge Wells

Join us

The Friends of Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons Charity brings together residents who have a love of the Commons.

Membership includes regular newsletters, full of updates and interesting reports from the Ranger and our Natural History specialist. Periodically we arrange nature-based events for children and, for adults, members receive priority booking to our social events. You will receive a New Members pack, which includes FREE copies of Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons trail maps!

We are a registered charity (No. 1013975) helping to look after the Commons for the benefit of the community and wildlife.

Please consider joining us and help support the work we do.

Periodically we arrange nature events for children, and for adults a variety of social events. Members receive priority booking plus a discount. In addition, our New Members pack, includes FREE copies of Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons trail maps!

Join us and help protect the
Commons for the future

Make a Difference

Help preserve our Commons for future generations

While membership subscriptions enable us to undertake a rolling programme of projects to help improve the Commons, donations allow us to finance more of the vital works needed to help maintain the Commons.