Further statement regarding the Old Grammar School Garden
Statement from the Trustees of the Fowey Grammar School Foundation regarding the Old Grammar School Garden and the Charity’s Responsibilities (April 2025)
The Fowey Grammar School Foundation (FGSF) is aware of increasing public interest and discussion surrounding the Old Grammar School Garden. As a registered charity serving the young people of Fowey and its surrounding areas, we feel it is necessary to clarify the facts, address growing speculation, and extend an invitation for constructive collaboration.
Correcting the Record
We are aware of a number of false or misleading claims currently in circulation, including suggestions that: the garden is about to be closed, the garden is being sold, and/or that the Foundation intends to turn the site into a ‘building plot’.
None of these claims are true.
What is true is that:
The garden is not currently for sale.
No decision has been made to close or redevelop the site.
The Foundation remains open to exploring ways to retain the garden as an accessible and valued space – provided this can be done in line with our charitable obligations.
Our Legal and Charitable Responsibilities
The Old Grammar School Garden is not just a green space – it is a charitable asset held in trust for the benefit of young people in Fowey. In line with Charity Commission guidance, we are legally required to manage this asset to generate a fair return to fund the Foundation’s charitable mission.
In 2024, the Foundation awarded c.£51,000 to 68 local students, supporting education, vocational training, and opportunities many could not otherwise afford. A significant number of our beneficiaries come from families in low-income communities in and around Fowey, Par, St Blazey and the local areas.
Our duty is to them — and to future generations — to ensure this charitable legacy is preserved and used responsibly.
The current situation
The garden is currently leased to Fowey Town Council (FTC) under a full repairing and insuring lease at a peppercorn rent of £1 per year. Unfortunately, the Council has not as yet met its repair obligations, and the site has deteriorated. At the same time, FTC – while holding a lease on the property – designated the site as a Local Green Space in the Neighbourhood Development Plan, against the Foundation’s wishes and without its consent, limiting future use and undermining the site’s market value.
Although the garden is not currently for sale, FTC has shown an interest in purchasing it. While we understand that FTC and others may wish to secure long-term access to the garden, we must be clear: offers received pre-empt professional valuation of the site and cannot currently be considered a viable proposal in line with our charitable obligations.
Despite this, the Foundation has remained open to granting a new lease to FTC (or others), on fair and sustainable terms, including a proper rental arrangement and resolution of outstanding dilapidations. These issues must be addressed as a matter of legal, ethical, and charitable duty.
While we understand the desire to preserve the garden unchanged, the reality is that the current arrangement does not meet the requirements set by charity law. Trustees cannot allow assets to sit underused or unmaintained at a loss, when they could be supporting the educational futures of local young people.
A Matter of Intergenerational Fairness
As Trustees, we fully appreciate that many residents — particularly long-time members of the community — feel a strong emotional connection to the garden. That matters. But we must also ensure that the next generation is not left behind.
Some of those expressing the strongest opposition to any change are long-standing residents or homeowners in one of the most desirable coastal towns in the country – people fortunate to enjoy a degree of security and comfort that many young people today are striving for.
The Foundation exists to support those young people — helping them access education, training, and opportunities that can shape their futures. Whether it’s a grant for university, vocational equipment, or specialist learning support, our role is to invest in their potential at a critical moment in their lives. That is a responsibility we take seriously, and one that guides every decision we make.
This Foundation exists to give those young people a fairer chance. We are proud of that duty – and we will uphold it.
A Constructive Way Forward
As local, unpaid volunteers entrusted with a serious responsibility, the Trustees of the Fowey Grammar School Foundation are committed to making decisions in the best interests of the young people we serve. We are not here to provoke division — we are here to uphold a duty. While that responsibility is not always easy or popular, it is one we take on willingly, and with care.
We continue to welcome ideas, partnerships, and constructive solutions, and we are committed to open dialogue with anyone who shares the goal of supporting a sustainable future for both the garden and our young beneficiaries.
That is why the Foundation is:
Commissioning a full professional valuation of the site.
Exploring alternative future uses that preserve community access and heritage while meeting our charitable objectives — including educational visits, low-impact concessions, or public events.
Considering a planning pre-application to better understand what uses are viable under current regulations.
Reviewing the site’s NDP designation to ensure our ability to manage the site appropriately is not unfairly restricted.
Proposing a public meeting, to share facts and invite ideas.
An Invitation to True Friends of the Garden
We are aware of the recently formed ‘Friends of the Old Grammar School Gardens’ group. While we respect the affection that motivates such efforts, we believe true stewardship means taking responsibility, not just expressing sentiment.
If the group – or any individual or organisation – wishes to support the garden in a way that sustains it for future generations, we are open to collaboration. That could include:
Voluntary maintenance contributions to reduce costs for any future tenant.
A formal community partnership to help care for the garden.
Sponsorships, donations, or legacies to support public access while upholding the garden’s role as a charitable asset.
We also understand the phrase that the garden is ‘making memories, not money’ has resonated with some. For the Foundation, it is not a choice between the two. We are proud to protect memories – and we are equally proud to turn assets like the Old Grammar School Garden into opportunities for young people. The true legacy of this garden is not only in what it meant yesterday, but in what it can make possible tomorrow.
The Foundation has been part of Fowey’s story for generations. Our responsibility is to ensure it continues to serve the next generation in ways that are fair, sustainable, and true to its founding purpose.
For further information, and to read our other detailed statements, please explore our website (foweygrammarschoolfoundation.org) or contact us directly at fgsclerk@hotmail.com
Signed,
The Trustees
Fowey Grammar School Foundation
