After hundreds of residents united to campaign to #StopTheChop we have successfully saved our Library Garden, including our famous four trees. Throughout this campaign, community group Protect Newark’s Green Spaces (PNGS) has been working tirelessly: organising meetings, gaining legal advice, working with the media, launching petitions, writing appeals, creating public awareness, sourcing ecological surveys and Capital Asset Value for Amenity Trees (CAVAT) on our trees. We’ve also organised several community events and mass peaceful protests, launched a postcard campaign and rallied a dedicated group of volunteers who monitored the site all hours around the clock. Many costs were incurred to achieve this victory which have been generously paid by PNGS members and supporters. As Newark’s appetite grows for protecting and exchanging green spaces in Newark, there will also be ongoing costs - including giving residents a say on the future management of our Library Garden. Working under so much pressure and within such a short timeframe, there are some key actions we’ve not yet been able to achieve, but we feel urgently needs to happen next:

- Commission a full independent investigation into the deal and actions of NSDC in relation to this project. We believe it is important for the people of Newark that full transparency and accountability is sought.

- Commission a forensic financial audit in relation to this deal.

Longer term as our campaign group grows and develops we will also need a fighting fund to help us

- Covering the cost of environmentally-focused legal advice.

- Assist with the costs of running community engagement events.

- Hiring ecological surveys for future sites at risk.

- Printing costs for future campaigns and information sheets.

- Help PNGS evolve and access vital skills and services.

Every donation, however small, will enable us to grow and deliver on Newark’s concerns and passion in protecting future sites at threat and enhancing sites in neglect.

Important information: When you donate to this crowdfunder, you are giving permission for PNGS to use your money in whatever way the group feels necessary to ensure that the people's voice is heard for the environment, for democracy, for transparency and accountability in local councils.