West Cornwall Women’s Land Trust Constitution
[henceforth known as ‘The Land’]
The Willow Arch on the Land
1.Situation
West Cornwall Women’s Land consists of a 2 acre
field near Sancreed in west Cornwall that was purchased
in 1996 by donations, and then legally placed in Trust for
all women to use and enjoy. All women are entitled to visit
and work with the Land, subject to Land etiquette (respect
for the Land and its neighbours). Any work undertaken on
the Land should be done in consultation with the Trustees
of the Land. The guiding principle around use of the Land
should always be good ecology and care and respect for the
Land. The question should always be asked as to whether
something is in the interest of the Land, and whether it
serves the needs of the Land, rather than how the Land can
serve the needs of any person(s).
2.Trusteeship
Trusteeship is open to any woman who is actively involved
with the Land, shows commitment and takes responsibility
for the guidance and organisation of the Land. Acceptance
of new Trustees is subject to the unanimous approval of
existing Trustees.There is no restriction on the total number
of Trustees at any one time. If only one Trustee remains
at any time, it then becomes her responsibility to pass
the Trusteeship over to one or more women before she gives
up the Trusteeship. Trustees can be approached by any woman
wishing to present her views or ideas.
3.Organisation
Trustees must hold at least one Trustee meeting a year.
Decisions about the Land are the ultimate responsibility
of the Trustees, who must minute them on paper and/or in
electronic formal for future reference. Trustees are responsible
for allocation of money. To operate the building society
account (with the Ecology Building Society) there needs
to be at least two signatories, who ideally should be Trustees
of the Land.
4.Decision -making processes
All decisions are to be made by consensus. If there are
any disagreements about issues relating to the Land, then
it is the responsibility of the Trustees to discuss and
talk through the issues until a compromise or workable agreement
is reached. Majority voting is not acceptable. If there
remains an impasse, then the status quo should prevail.
If a decision has to be reached, the Trustees may ultimately
take the matter to agreed arbitration or mediation, providing
that all parties agree to abide by the results of that arbitration.
5.Responsibilities of Trustees
Trustees have the responsibility of making the Land as
accessible as possible to as many women as possible. Subject
to personal circumstances, they should be prepared to network
the existence of the Land to any possible interested parties,
and should be willing to help organise any planned Events
on and for the Land, and to help and advise any woman who
wishes to use the Land. Decisions about publicity for the
Land are the responsibility of the Trustees, but they should
be careful at all times to be discreet about the precise
location of the Land, in order to protect any woman/ women
who may use the Land. Decisions about how much or how little
activity is undertaken for/on the Land at any time are the
responsibility of the Trustees. However a Trustee should
always be receptive to any woman who has ideas and suggestions
for activities or use of the Land.
6.Policies
6.1 Women
The Women’s Land is open only to women. Men are
not normally permitted on the Land, with the sole exception
of workmen/utility men, where this has been agreed by
the Trustees. However, the Trust should always endeavour
to find a woman who can do these tasks before engaging
a man in these circumstances. This is particularly to
protect women who come to the Land for seclusion and isolation,
and to spend time with other women.
6.2 Anti-Discrimination policy
The Trust has a proactive policy of non-discrimination.
No woman will be discriminated against, and no decision
may be taken which is discriminatory to any woman, due
to race/ethnicity, disability, sexuality, sexual orientation,
class, nationality, or political and religious beliefs
(providing that these beliefs are not in themselves discriminatory).
6.3 Disability awareness
The Trust shall at all times consider the issue of Disability
when making its decisions. Furthermore, the Trust undertakes
to actively promote use of the Land to disabled women,
and to provide facilties for them, within its financial
means.
6.4 Etiquette
All visitors to the Land must behave responsibly and
with respect for the Land and other women on the Land,
as well as having respect for neighbours to the Land.
Anyone who does not show this respect may be asked to
leave the Land.
6.5 Babies and children
All babies and children are welcome on the land, provided
they are accompanied by a responsible woman adult and
observe land etiquette. The Trust recognises that there
can be no fixed age or gender rule about this, as the
behaviour of children and their interaction with adults
varies considerably from one child to another. Each instance
must be judged on its individual merits.
6.6 Animals
The Trust does not encourage the bringing of pets to
the Land, due to the presence of various wild creatures
there. However, it is prepared to permit dogs on the Land,
provided they do not disturb the wildlife and are kept
under proper control at all times. Barking is discouraged,
and all dog faeces must be cleared up and removed from
the Land. No hunting of any kind is permitted on the Land.
6.7 Noise
The Trust recognises that there may be occasions when
women wish to participate in a Sacred Celebration on the
Land, and on those occasions an amount of reasonable noise
is to be expected. However, the land is primarily intended
to be a quiet and peaceful place, so excessive noise is
not permitted. In particular radio and other forms of
loud music are not acceptable in such an area. Consideration
should be shown for neighbours to the Land.
Although the Land is open and free for any women to
use at any time, the decision of the Trustees on any of
these matters is always final.
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