The History of the Trust
A Gift to the People of Dunmore East
The Dunmore East Woods & Park Trust traces its origins to 9 September 1924, when John Charles de la Poer Beresford, 7th Marquis of Waterford, transferred the Dunmore woodlands and parkland into trust for the benefit of the local community.
The indenture prescribed that the lands be preserved for “the pleasure and recreation of the inhabitants of Dunmore and the surrounding district”.
The Woods and the Park were established through two separate legal conveyances, completed on the same day. The Woods (then known as the Dunmore Plantations) comprised approximately 42 acres, while the Park included the public recreation grounds. Each had its own body of trustees, although three individuals served on both trusts.
The first trustees included a number of clergymen from both denominations, local dignitaries, businessmen and large farmers. Thus, the village was gifted its most cherished assets — the local woods and park.
Rather than transferring the land to the State or local authority, Lord Waterford placed it into private trust, to be held and managed by local trustees for the benefit, recreation and enjoyment of the people of Dunmore East and the surrounding district. That unique arrangement remains in place today.
A Trust Created Just in Time
The Trust was created at a critical time. Correspondence from early 1924 reveals that the woods were being damaged and trees were being cut while the legal transfer was still being arranged. Local organiser John Cosby Mackay played a pivotal role in bringing the trustees together, progressing the conveyance and securing protection for the woodland.
The process almost failed because the proposed trustees had no funds to meet the legal costs. Through the determination of the local community and the support of Lord Waterford, the conveyances were completed and the Woods and Park were secured for future generations.
The Responsibilities of the Trustees
The original Trust Deeds also placed important responsibilities on the trustees. The Woods were to be preserved as a public amenity and not managed as a commercial enterprise. The trustees were entrusted with protecting the woodland, regulating its use and maintaining it for public enjoyment. While responsible woodland management remains essential, the Trust was never intended to generate income through the sale of timber or the development of the land.
Those principles continue to shape the Trust today. The trustees remain responsible for meeting the ongoing costs of caring for the Woods and Park, including insurance, tree safety, path maintenance, conservation work, professional advice and the upkeep of public facilities. Unlike publicly owned parks, there is no routine local authority budget for these costs.
The Trust Today
Today, the Trust continues to care for approximately 42 acres of woodlands and The Park through the commitment of volunteer trustees, supported by community fundraising, donations, grant funding and the generosity of volunteers. Every improvement, from planting a young sapling to restoring a historic stone wall or maintaining woodland paths, helps honour the vision established in 1924.
More than a century later, the Trust remains true to its founding purpose: to protect this remarkable place and ensure it can be enjoyed by everyone, for generations to come.
Read more about our approach to stewardship, or see the projects that work has made possible.
Every year the Woods and Park need care that the Trust must fund itself.
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