Monthly Archives: January 2017

PITSTONE PROTAGONISTS

Posted on January 29, 2017 by ashridgevolunteersblog

Pitstone Common Wood, now known as Sallow Copse, close by to Ringshall was the venue for the Thursday volunteers, on the coldest day of the year. The forestry team had been in earlier to cut down silver birch, which has … Continue reading →

Posted in Flora and Fauna, History, Thursday Conservation Group, Wildlife | 1 Comment

Hot Stuff

Posted on January 26, 2017 by ashridgevolunteersblog

Climate change is in the news again, as 2016 is likely to be the warmest year on record since 1880. So how is this affecting us at Ashridge? Climate change is disrupting the seasonal behavior of Britain’s countryside. Spring seems to arrive … Continue reading →

Posted in Flora and Fauna, Personal Messages, Wildlife | 1 Comment

Calling all volunteers

Posted on January 22, 2017 by ashridgevolunteersblog

Dear Vollies Some of you joined me last July for a super morning in the barn at Hill Farm for tea and cake.  The barn now has planning permission for a cafe and they are planning to open on 1st April.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Spot the Volunteer

Posted on January 18, 2017 by ashridgevolunteersblog

Spot the Volunteer: A hundred years ago it would not be uncommon for volunteers to meet up with royalty and the great and the good, as part of a shooting party. Ashridge shooting parties were famous, drawing prominent guests over … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, History, Why I Volunteer | 1 Comment

Ritual Burning

Posted on January 13, 2017 by ashridgevolunteersblog

Thursday morning volunteers again visited the neglected and overgrown area now known as Northchurch Flats – it is far from flat! The first visit to clear the scrub took place before Christmas, with a record turn-out, and it was expected … Continue reading →

Posted in Flora and Fauna, Thursday Conservation Group, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Villain of the scrub

Posted on January 12, 2017 by ashridgevolunteersblog

Hawthorn predominates amongst the scrub layer covering so much of the chalk hills on the Estate. It is the first to conquer open grassland , and survives for many years quite happily on the thin dry soils of the uplands, … Continue reading →

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Plant Fair 2017

Posted on January 10, 2017 by ashridgevolunteersblog

Dear Volunteers As many of you are aware, I have taken over the co-ordination role of the National Trust Plant Fair from John Cartwright. He has left rather big boots to fill after many years of successful Plant Fairs so … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Flora and Fauna, Personal Messages | 1 Comment

Calling all Rangers

Posted on January 8, 2017 by ashridgevolunteersblog

Rangers have been invited to a meeting at the Visitor Centre on Friday 27th January at 2.00pm., which is a change from the original date of January 20th. The gathering will include a short walk around the Estate to view … Continue reading →

Posted in Archeology, Charcoal, Events, Flint wall group, Flint Wall Volunteers, Flora and Fauna, Fly Tipping, History, Litter Picking, Personal Messages, Sunday Group, Thursday Conservation Group, Volunteer Rangers, Walks, Why I Volunteer, Wildlife, Windmill | Leave a comment

Holiday Heaven

Posted on January 5, 2017 by ashridgevolunteersblog

Visitors took advantage of the good weather on Monday, the last day of the Christmas holiday for many, to take in the air at Ashridge. Despite the muddy ground conditions some four hundred and fifty vehicles were parked at any … Continue reading →

Posted in Flora and Fauna, Thursday Conservation Group, Wildlife | 2 Comments

A Regal Message

Posted on January 3, 2017 by ashridgevolunteersblog

For those of you that have missed it , and there must have been a lot if the response figures are a judge, Helen Ghosh the Director General put out a Seasonal message to volunteers on the myvolunteering web site. … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal Messages | 1 Comment