In March 2009 Ore Community Land Trust (the Trust) was launched with the principal aims of acquiring land in the Upper Ore Valley (Speckled Wood) for community use, creating accessible amenity areas and protecting wildlife habitat. It was set up by Ore Valley Action, which was preceded by the Speckled Wood Group and SADOWLS, all with the aim of protecting Speckled Wood as an urban green space. Its heritage, therefore, dates back to 2005.
The Trust is a charitable membership organisation, involving residents and supportive organisations and recruits volunteers to help with clearance and conservation work. The Trust organises members meetings and public meetings and events to report on its plans and consult the local community. The Trust and ,previously, Ore Valley Action have organised the annual Ore Village Fair since 2009 as means of bringing the community together and seeking support for its aims.
The Trust has worked with a number of local and town wide organisations and continues to maintain good working relations with nearly all local groups, organisations and forums.
These include:
- Ore Valley Forum
- Ore Centre
- Salvation Army (Ore)
- Hastings Academy
- Hastings Borough Council
- Hastings Environmental network
- Hastings Voluntary Action
- Hastings Community Network
- Hastings & Rother Disability Forum
- Hastings Greenway Group
- Ore Together community forum
- Sussex Wildlife Trust
- Ramblers