Author Archives: ashridgevolunteersblog

Bishop’s Heath is parched and crisped by the last few weeks of dry summer heat, the heather is a burnt brown-to-burgundy, the heathland grass yellowed. The bracken looks all right – still a deep pea-green – it takes cold weather … Continue reading →

If you go down to the woods today, you are in for a big surprise – blue-spotted ash trees! The Trust are currently assessing the extent of the dieback on ash trees known as chalara, which has been at Ashridge … Continue reading →

The Cubbington pear in Warwickshire was voted England’s Tree of the Year in 2015 but despite years of protest it is now awaiting the chop! The very rare lonesome pear is now to be sacrificed on the alter of progress. … Continue reading →

It’s time we stopped treating the soil like dirt.. Without efforts to rebuild soil health, we could lose our ability to grow enough nutritious food to feed the planet’s population. The world needs topsoil to grow most of its food … Continue reading →

A well known piece of the British landscape that had become depleted of flora and fauna because of years of intensive farming is alive with wildflowers, butterflies and birds this summer. Since the National Trust acquired fields on the top of the … Continue reading →

The National Trust is planning to plant twenty million trees over the next decade as part of its efforts to become a net zero carbon emitter by 2030, which it says will cost some £90m- £100m. The organisation made the announcement … Continue reading →

John Wilson arrived at Ashridge in 1957 to take up the post of Head Ranger, and was to become the most influential National Trust manager during his thirty four years service. He was responsible for much of the new planting … Continue reading →

  Sheer joy – but alas now a faded feeling  

  Thanks for the memory  

For those wishing to take the air, fear not for the rules on confinement have been clarified. Driving to the countryside for a walk on the wild side – where more time is spent doing the latter than the former … Continue reading →