OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST
Oxford Preservation Trust is an independent charity founded in 1927 that conserves Oxford's historic places and green spaces, manages roughly 1,000 acres of land, and runs heritage programs serving its ~2,000 members, 46 corporate partners, and the wider public.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1927
- HeadquartersOxford, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST does
Oxford Preservation Trust (OPT) is an independent local charity founded in 1927, headquartered at 10 Turn Again Lane, St. Ebbes, Oxford, dedicated to the conservation and sustainable enhancement of Oxford and to the public appreciation of its history. The charity cares for approximately 1,000 acres of green space in and around the city (including Hinksey Meadow, acquired 1997, and Old Berkeley Golf Course, protected since 1928), campaigns for thoughtful planning, celebrates excellent new design through the OPT Awards scheme (established 1977), and enables public access to Oxford's historic places. Its flagship annual event, Oxford Open Doors (running since 2007 in partnership with the University of Oxford), reached 91,446 individual visits across 148 venues in 2025.
OPT operates three core revenue streams — individual memberships (Individual £38.50, Family £66, Young Person £20, plus a low-income tier), corporate memberships (46 companies at £660+VAT/year), and the Betjeman Circle patron scheme (£385 individual / £660 joint) — alongside one-off donations, legacies, corporate sponsorship of the OPT Awards, and restricted project grants (notably a £49,204 National Lottery Heritage Fund grant awarded in July 2025 with Shotover Preservation Society). Distribution and outreach rely on the Open Doors event, a library of self-guided walk PDFs, an email newsletter, and social channels (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube). Active conservation projects include the Slade Camp heritage research initiative, wetland restoration boardwalks at Old Berkeley Golf Course, the Walton Well Drinking Fountain restoration, and long-running fritillary population monitoring at Hinksey Meadow.
Operations are lean, with a 1-10 person staff led by Chief Executive Anna Eavis (Chair: William Whyte), supported by approximately 2,000 individual members and an established volunteer ecosystem (Oxford Conservation Volunteers, Abingdon Green Gym, Oxford Good Gym). The organization faces a material land-loss event: in May 2025 the Secretary of State approved a Compulsory Purchase Order for the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme resulting in compulsory purchase of part of Hinksey Meadow.
OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST
- Legal name
- Oxford Preservation Trust
- Website
- https://oxfordpreservation.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1927
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Oxford Preservation Trust is an independent charity founded in 1927 that conserves Oxford's historic places and green spaces, manages roughly 1,000 acres of land, and runs heritage programs serving its ~2,000 members, 46 corporate partners, and the wider public.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Heritage Conservation
- NAICS
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Historical Sites (712120), Museums (712110), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Historical Sites (71212)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI), Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)
Keywords
Where OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oxford
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership subscriptions from individuals and families providing free entry to Oxford Castle & Prison, discounts at partner venues, and access to member-only events. Nearly 2000 members support the organization.
- Corporate Membership: Corporate membership at £660 +VAT per year, providing networking events, volunteering opportunities, venue hire discounts, and recognition at OPT Awards. Includes 46 named corporate members from construction, architecture, and professional services sectors.
- Patron Membership (Betjeman Circle): Named after Sir John Betjeman, patron membership at £385/year (individual) or £660/year (for two), offering behind-the-scenes access, invitations to Oxford Open Doors Launch and OPT Awards, free entry to heritage sites, and discounts at partner venues.
- Donations and Legacies: One-time donations and planned gifts through wills. Donate page emphasizes support for green spaces, conservation projects, planning assistance, and public engagement. Legacy gifts enabled acquisition of Heyford Meadow.
- Corporate Sponsorship of Awards: OPT Awards scheme sponsored by corporate partners including Gravita, Mathews Comfort Insurance Broker, and Carter Jonas, who enable the celebration of positive contributions to Oxford's streets and communities.
- Venue Hire: Corporate members receive 10% discount on hire of Oxford Castle, Oxford Castle Crypt, and the Key Learning Centre. Additional revenue from related experiences like Murder Mystery and Jail Break at Oxford Castle.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Individual Membership at £38.50/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Family Membership at £66/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Young Person Membership at £20/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Low Income Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Patron Individual Membership at £385/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Patron Joint Membership at £660/year (for two) |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate Membership at £660 +VAT/year |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Oxford Preservation Trust is an independent heritage charity, founded in 1927, that preserves and enhances Oxford's historic buildings, landscapes and open spaces. It directly manages approximately 1,000 acres of green space, runs the annual Oxford Open Doors festival across around 148 venues, awards grants for the repair of historic buildings, delivers educational talks and walks, and advocates on planning and heritage policy in the city.
Product overview
OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST operates as a membership-based charity offering multiple interconnected programs centered on heritage preservation and green space conservation. The core offerings include the OPT Awards annual recognition scheme (established 1977), Oxford Open Doors annual heritage open weekend (since 2007), and various membership tiers (Individual/Family, Corporate, and Patron/Betjeman Circle). The organization manages conservation projects at sites including Hinksey Meadow, Old Berkeley Golf Course, Slade Camp, and Walton Well Drinking Fountain. Additional services encompass self-guided walks across Oxford's heritage and green spaces, green space volunteering programs, and community engagement initiatives supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Revenue is generated through memberships, corporate partnerships, donations, and event participation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Individual Membership
- Corporate Membership
- Oxford Open Doors
- Heritage Building Grants Programme
- Green Space Stewardship
Quantifiable outcome
- Highest ever fritillary count at Hinksey Meadow: 532 flowering plants and 513 vegetative plants in 2025
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Shotover Preservation SocietycoreJoint partnership with Shotover Preservation Society awarded £49,204 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the 'Into the Woods: The Slade Camp Story' project. Together, OPT and the society are involving communities in researching and sharing the history of Slade Camp, recording experiences of former residents and creating new signage and a guided trail for visitors.
- University of OxfordcoreLong-standing partnership with the University of Oxford to organize Oxford Open Doors as part of the wider national and European Heritage Open Days festival. The partnership enables public access to college buildings, libraries, and academic spaces not normally open to visitors.
- Vale of White Horse District CouncilminorProvided £5,500 contribution towards the Old Berkeley Golf Course wetland restoration project, specifically for the construction of new boardwalks and post and rail fencing to improve public access while protecting sensitive wetland habitat.
- Oxfordshire Buildings TrustminorPartner in the Walton Well Drinking Fountain restoration project, providing funding support alongside other donors including the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Lucy Group Ltd., City Councillors, and CPRE Oxfordshire Buildings Preservation Trust.
- GravitaminorCorporate member and award sponsor enabling OPT to celebrate positive contributions new projects make to Oxford's streets and communities through the annual OPT Awards.
- Carter JonasminorCorporate member and award sponsor of the OPT Awards scheme, supporting recognition of projects that contribute to Oxford's character.
- Mathews Comfort Insurance BrokerminorCorporate member and award sponsor enabling the OPT Awards celebration of excellence in conservation and new design.
- Oxford Conservation Volunteers (OCV)coreCommunity partner organization that completed two new boardwalks at Old Berkeley Golf Course as part of the wetland restoration project. OCV provides dedicated volunteer labor for practical conservation work across OPT's green spaces.
- Abingdon Green GymminorPartner in green space maintenance work parties, contributing volunteer labor alongside OPT's dedicated volunteers for conservation tasks.
- Oxford Good GymminorCommunity organization partnering with OPT for green space volunteer work parties, combining fitness with conservation work.
- Canal & River TrustminorPartner organization hosting pop-up events at Isis Lock during Oxford Open Doors, showcasing waterway heritage and providing educational activities.
- Oxford Bus MuseumminorPartner venue running heritage bus tours during Oxford Open Doors, providing transport heritage experiences for visitors.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- CPRE Oxfordshire: Oxfordshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, working on planning advocacy and landscape conservation in the same county as OPT. Comparable on planning influence, countryside preservation, and Walton Well restoration co-funding.
Direct peers
- Historic Royal Palaces: Charity managing unoccupied royal palaces, funded by admissions, memberships, and donations. Comparable to OPT on heritage interpretation, member-exclusive access, and event-based public engagement at historic sites.
- Woodland Trust: UK-wide conservation charity managing woodlands through membership, donations, and volunteer programs. Comparable to OPT on member-driven conservation, land stewardship, and grants-funded restoration projects.
- English Heritage: Charitable trust that cares for over 400 historic sites across England, combining membership, events, and conservation. Directly comparable to OPT on heritage site operations, membership revenue model, and public engagement programming.
- The National Trust: The UK's largest conservation charity, managing historic houses, gardens, and natural landscapes with a member- and donor-driven model very similar to OPT. Highly comparable on heritage site management, membership tiers, volunteering programs, and conservation advocacy.
- Churches Conservation Trust: UK charity conserving historic churches and promoting public access. Closely comparable to OPT on building conservation, community volunteering, and member-driven heritage stewardship.
- Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT): Local wildlife trust operating across the same Oxfordshire geography as OPT, with overlapping mandate on nature reserves, volunteer work parties, and conservation grants. Directly comparable on land management scale and volunteer-led conservation delivery.
- Land Trust: Charitable land trust managing green spaces for community access and biodiversity across England. Closely comparable to OPT's 1,000-acre green space portfolio model and conservation-with-public-access mission.
Emerging players
- Civic Voice: National charity for civic societies promoting local heritage and design quality. Comparable to OPT's planning advocacy role and OPT Awards-style recognition of design excellence in the built environment.
- Canal & River Trust: Charity caring for UK waterways, with overlapping Oxford-area heritage work and volunteer model. Comparable on heritage site tourism, public access programming, and Oxford-specific partnerships (e.g., Isis Lock pop-up events during Open Doors).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST social profiles
Digital presenceOXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST
What does OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST do?
Oxford Preservation Trust is an independent heritage charity, founded in 1927, that preserves and enhances Oxford's historic buildings, landscapes and open spaces. It directly manages approximately 1,000 acres of green space, runs the annual Oxford Open Doors festival across around 148 venues, awards grants for the repair of historic buildings, delivers educational talks and walks, and advocates on planning and heritage policy in the city.
Is OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST a public or private company?
OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST founded?
OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST was founded in 1927. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST based?
OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST is headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are corporate Membership, patron Membership (Betjeman Circle), donations and Legacies, corporate Sponsorship of Awards and venue Hire.
Who are OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST's main competitors?
CPRE Oxfordshire is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Historic Royal Palaces, Woodland Trust, English Heritage, The National Trust, Churches Conservation Trust, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) and Land Trust. Emerging players are Civic Voice and Canal & River Trust.
Does OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST have an API?
No public API is recorded for OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST.
What industry is OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST in?
OXFORD PRESERVATION TRUST's product category is Heritage Conservation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAE, Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation, with a secondary code of THAJADAI, Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations). Its NAICS code is 7121.