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Crowdfunding bid fails in plan to purchase Lake District mountain Crowdfunding campaign to buy Lake District mountain admits defeat
(35 minutes later)
A group of Lake District ramblers have failed to buy one of the national park’s most beloved mountains after a two-year campaign, leaving those who donated to the cause unsure whether their money will be returned.A group of Lake District ramblers have failed to buy one of the national park’s most beloved mountains after a two-year campaign, leaving those who donated to the cause unsure whether their money will be returned.
Blencathra, also known as Saddleback, was put on sale by its aristocratic owner in 2014 for £1.75m, ostensibly to pay an inheritance tax bill.Blencathra, also known as Saddleback, was put on sale by its aristocratic owner in 2014 for £1.75m, ostensibly to pay an inheritance tax bill.
The unusual real estate offer prompted interest from around the world, with many locals fearing – unreasonably, the estate agent insisted – that the 868-metre (2,850ft) peak could be bought by a foreign oligarch who would either attempt to develop it or try to prevent walkers from accessing the land.The unusual real estate offer prompted interest from around the world, with many locals fearing – unreasonably, the estate agent insisted – that the 868-metre (2,850ft) peak could be bought by a foreign oligarch who would either attempt to develop it or try to prevent walkers from accessing the land.
Friends of Blencathra was born after one local mused in a nearby pub: “If we all chipped in a tenner ...” The group raised more than £250,000 in a crowdfunding campaign, but it was not nearly enough to buy the mountain, described by Alfred Wainwright, the author of the seven-volume pictorial guide to the Lakeland Fells, as “one of the grandest objects in Lakeland”.Friends of Blencathra was born after one local mused in a nearby pub: “If we all chipped in a tenner ...” The group raised more than £250,000 in a crowdfunding campaign, but it was not nearly enough to buy the mountain, described by Alfred Wainwright, the author of the seven-volume pictorial guide to the Lakeland Fells, as “one of the grandest objects in Lakeland”.
The campaign was launched in 2014 after the owner, Hugh Lowther, the eighth Earl of Lonsdale said he was hoping “some daft Russian” would buy it “to show off”. He threw in the ancient feudal title of Lordship of the Manor of Threlkeld with the deal, but failed to attract a serious buyer.The campaign was launched in 2014 after the owner, Hugh Lowther, the eighth Earl of Lonsdale said he was hoping “some daft Russian” would buy it “to show off”. He threw in the ancient feudal title of Lordship of the Manor of Threlkeld with the deal, but failed to attract a serious buyer.
This year Lowther settled his inheritance tax bill by selling a Turner painting for £2m to the Tate, among other family heirlooms. He took the fell off the market, saying he wanted it to remain in the Lowther clan for generations.This year Lowther settled his inheritance tax bill by selling a Turner painting for £2m to the Tate, among other family heirlooms. He took the fell off the market, saying he wanted it to remain in the Lowther clan for generations.
Undeterred, Friends of Blencathra vowed to continue their fight to buy it, but many donors believed the battle was lost and demanded their money back. Some people had chipped in £10; others had given £1,000 or more. But the group said it was not yet in a position to return the cash, prompting its honorary chair, the mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington, to express concern.Undeterred, Friends of Blencathra vowed to continue their fight to buy it, but many donors believed the battle was lost and demanded their money back. Some people had chipped in £10; others had given £1,000 or more. But the group said it was not yet in a position to return the cash, prompting its honorary chair, the mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington, to express concern.
After Bonington spoke out, a an Oxford man, Martin Knowles, set up a breakaway “action” group on Facebook called Friends of Blencathra Please Say No, formed in order to “highlight the terrible way the charity is behaving”.After Bonington spoke out, a an Oxford man, Martin Knowles, set up a breakaway “action” group on Facebook called Friends of Blencathra Please Say No, formed in order to “highlight the terrible way the charity is behaving”.
“Many donors, of which there are thousands, have contacted me stating that they wish their donations to be refunded but have been refused,” Knowles said in July. He claimed he had received a call from “a little old lady who has donated £1,000 and is distraught that she will never see her money again”.“Many donors, of which there are thousands, have contacted me stating that they wish their donations to be refunded but have been refused,” Knowles said in July. He claimed he had received a call from “a little old lady who has donated £1,000 and is distraught that she will never see her money again”.
Lowther’s solicitors, acting for Lonsdale Settled Estates, delivered a bad-tempered ultimatum to the original group in August, giving them 21 days to make an offer. “Our client has no wish to be associated with what appears to be turning into a public dispute between your client and a number of the donors to its appeal,” the lawyers wrote.Lowther’s solicitors, acting for Lonsdale Settled Estates, delivered a bad-tempered ultimatum to the original group in August, giving them 21 days to make an offer. “Our client has no wish to be associated with what appears to be turning into a public dispute between your client and a number of the donors to its appeal,” the lawyers wrote.
That offer expired at 5pm on Monday. Less than an hour beforehand, the group’s chair, Dave Wheeler, finally admitted defeat. In a statement he said: “Last month we received an ultimatum to make a final offer for Blencathra within 21 days, from the solicitors acting for Lonsdale Settled Estates. It was made clear that the offer would have to be substantially above the valuations we have received for the mountain to be acceptable and that the other proposals we had offered would not be considered. The property was vested in the name of the eighth Earl of Lonsdale last week.That offer expired at 5pm on Monday. Less than an hour beforehand, the group’s chair, Dave Wheeler, finally admitted defeat. In a statement he said: “Last month we received an ultimatum to make a final offer for Blencathra within 21 days, from the solicitors acting for Lonsdale Settled Estates. It was made clear that the offer would have to be substantially above the valuations we have received for the mountain to be acceptable and that the other proposals we had offered would not be considered. The property was vested in the name of the eighth Earl of Lonsdale last week.
“The trustees of Friends of Blencathra Ltd have declined to make an offer on the terms indicated and, with the change of ownership, now see no prospects of a successful purchase by the charity. The trustees will meet shortly to discuss the implications of that decision and prepare a public consultation on the future of the charity.”“The trustees of Friends of Blencathra Ltd have declined to make an offer on the terms indicated and, with the change of ownership, now see no prospects of a successful purchase by the charity. The trustees will meet shortly to discuss the implications of that decision and prepare a public consultation on the future of the charity.”
The Guardian asked how and when the group planned to refund the money, but Wheeler did not respond.The Guardian asked how and when the group planned to refund the money, but Wheeler did not respond.