Help to save our homes.

My name is Abby and I'm raising funds to help save My parents ( Brian and Sheila ) and 4 other residents from being made homeless.

In 2004, Sheila and Brian purchased a property with 5 acres of land. The property had been unsold for an extended period and was rundown. Their tireless efforts to restore it to its current state are highly commendable.

Upon acquiring the property, they were eager to utilize the land for cultivation. However, soil tests revealed severe contamination from mine waste, rendering it unsuitable for growing crops. Despite this setback, they kept pigs, cows, and fowl to fertilize the soil and eventually converted the fields into woodland.

Brian and Sheila dedicated their lives to caregiving, earning two awards for their exceptional work. They established and operated a day center for dementia and Alzheimer’s sufferers in their converted barn. Plans to erect a garden room for the center's users were halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated the closure of the day center. Following this, they were compelled to sell their home. Desiring to remain on their land, they sought planning permission from Cornwall Council to convert the garden room into an eco-home within the woodland where they had planted 2,000 trees to enhance the ecosystem. Unfortunately, they received no assistance from planning authorities. Nearing 70 years of age and with limited funds, they proceeded with the build, applying for retrospective planning approval.

In their spare time, they constructed a carbon-neutral home, using straw bales and timber, which is not visible from the road, overlooks no one, and has no environmental impact. Despite their concerted efforts with planning authorities, they now face eviction from their own home on their own land. This would also affect others residing on the same land. These pensioners, who have spent years aiding others, now seek support to navigate council bureaucracy.

The woodland they developed is now a thriving habitat for numerous species of birds, animals, and fungi. Their achievements over the years are truly remarkable. While this narrative includes many complexities, I have summarized the main points. I am setting up this campaign for my parents as a final hope, appealing to the public for assistance.

Recently, the Council issued an enforcement notice mandating that they revert everything to its state from ten years ago within 18 months and that all relevant people be out there dwellings. This will render four pensioners (including my parents) and a mother and her nine-year-old child homeless. My parents must lodge an appeal by June 9th, which incurs a fee of £4,750.

Please can you share our page, spread the word and donate whatever you can to help save our homes.

Thank you for any help you can offer.