Category Archives: Wildlife

Oh dear…

Posted on November 3, 2017 by ashridgevolunteersblog

If you go down to the woods today you are sure of a big surprise – sinister figures riding around on quad-bikes. It is however for serious endeavour- not a picnic. Now that the rutting season has finished, when stags … Continue reading →

Posted in Flora and Fauna, Surveys, Wildlife | Leave a comment

A Good Read

Posted on June 29, 2017 by ashridgevolunteersblog

Summer time and book reading seem to go hand in hand, like  Wimbledon and strawberries. With his last book about Britain’s ancient pathways, author Robert Macfarlane completed a trilogy on his acclaimed meditation on landscape. Finding a bad word to … Continue reading →

Posted in Flora and Fauna, Walks, Wildlife | Leave a comment

VANISHING VISITORS

Posted on May 18, 2017 by ashridgevolunteersblog

The Trust have been concerned for some time about the declining numbers of certain types of visitors, so with the help of the volunteers they have created a water feature in a wild pleasure – garden setting. This is to … Continue reading →

Posted in Flora and Fauna, Sunday Group, Thursday Conservation Group, Volunteer Rangers, Why I Volunteer, Wildlife | 1 Comment

The Iconic Oak in Spring

Posted on May 12, 2017 by ashridgevolunteersblog

There is one other event that we can expect in life as well as death and taxation, and that is the changing of the seasons. It is nature’s alarm clock and it happens every year. As the Spring temperature rises … Continue reading →

Posted in Flora and Fauna, Wildlife | 2 Comments

Back to its Roots

Posted on May 3, 2017 by ashridgevolunteersblog

For those of you who did not spot the announcement in March of this year, The National Trust is to go back to its roots after admitting it had lost sight of one of its core founding principles – to protect … Continue reading →

Posted in Flora and Fauna, History, Walks, Wildlife | 2 Comments

Breaking the Rules

Posted on April 13, 2017 by ashridgevolunteersblog

Deep down in the centre of the Estate lies the attractive Woodyard Cottage(s), built around 1820 when the Bridgewaters were becoming landed aristocrats. Already rich from their coal and canal activity in Lancashire, they rapidly extended their land holding once … Continue reading →

Posted in Ad hoc Volunteer Group, History, Wildlife | 1 Comment

Bless the S S S I

Posted on April 10, 2017 by ashridgevolunteersblog

A site of special scientific interest is designated and regulated by Natural England as an area of special interest by reason of its flora, fauna or geology. Ashridge have a number of these designated areas within the Estate and for … Continue reading →

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

The Home-makers

Posted on March 3, 2017 by ashridgevolunteersblog

The Thursday volunteers took advantage of the good weather this week to push ahead with the clearance of Northchurch Flats, after the extensive tree and scrub clearance. One group proceeded with the ritual burning of the brash, while the ladies … Continue reading →

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

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