Category Archives: Flora and Fauna

Breaking News

Posted on September 9, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

A close shave on Thursday for two PMV’s and their occupants – a beech tree shed a branch laden with mast in the gusty wind on Duncombe Terrace. The branch dropped from a height of fifty feet landing just a … Continue reading →

Posted in Flora and Fauna, Volunteer Rangers | 1 Comment

American Graffiti

Posted on August 15, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

Whilst waiting for the Allied invasion of Europe in 1944, the Americans were stationed in Thunderdell Wood, and left their mark. The video tells the story………………….. Thanks to Richard Gwilt.    

Posted in Flora and Fauna, Volunteer Rangers | 2 Comments

Hotel accommodation for invertebrates.

Posted on August 11, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

The Trust are now taking winter bookings at the Visitor Centre from “invertebrates”, for the new Inn on the Green. A new five star attraction offering the latest facilities for wasps, bees, flies, hover-flies, spiders and the like. Originally constructed … Continue reading →

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

The Butterfly Bush

Posted on August 8, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

After a six minute walk from the V. C. along the Old Copse Trail around Meadleys meadow behind the cafe, you will find a Buddleia bush. I was walking past it last Wednesday and spotted a butterfly that I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Flora and Fauna | 3 Comments

Why I volunteer

Posted on July 30, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

There are plenty of trees in Ashridge from which to choose a favourite.  I found my latest favourite through helping with Archaeological Monitoring and the Veteran Tree Survey. For both of these projects I have been exploring Northchurch Common, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Flora and Fauna | Leave a comment

Garden Visit

Posted on July 21, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

Some twenty volunteers attended the garden visit at Ashridge House last Wednesday, along with Lawrence and Bob representing the Trust – the immediate neighbours. Ashridge House relies upon the goodwill of the Trust to secure the various vistas from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Flora and Fauna | 1 Comment

Princess Anne’s Plantation – part III

Posted on July 16, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

Some lovely shots of Clipper Down and Pitstone Hill on a summer’s day. On Thursday the team were removing more of the wire netting from the redundant fence line, but the gate posts proved to be immovable. Clipper Down is … Continue reading →

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

Helping the flora

Posted on July 13, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

Ashridge supports a number of rare flowers, mainly on the chalk downland like the fleawort and early gentian. However there is one rarity which hides away in the deep shade of the beech woods – the violet helleborine. Harding’s Rookery is … Continue reading →

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

A magic carpet

Posted on June 24, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

There is a magic carpet of wild flowers on the south east side of Beacon Hill at SP962165, which can be seen from the Beacon car park. It appears as a purple haze from a distance, but on closer inspection the … Continue reading →

Posted in Flora and Fauna, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Thursday conservation group – June 16th

Posted on June 20, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

The group was divided up into three teams. One team went with Emily and dug up various turfs in various locations in Ashridge and transplanted them into the new pond area to enrich the wild flower diversity there. Another group were … Continue reading →

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