Breaking News

Posted on September 9, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

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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 few feet in front of the visitors! Luckily staff and volunteers were on hand to rescue the situation. Never a dull moment at Ashridge.

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Horsey keep your tail up…….

Posted on September 9, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

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The volunteers supported the Fun Ride as road marshals last Sunday.

The weather was ideal for the event, which was attended by eighty riders – a four fold increase on the first Fun Ride. Susie was pleased that it all went off without incident. Riders and their crews all seemed to be in high spirits, and the Facebook comments were very positive.

Lew Childre the old grey mare

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Busy Bank Holiday Weekend

Posted on September 5, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

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All car parks full to capacity on the Monday. At least six hundred and fifty cars along Monument Drive resulting in plenty of litter and some disposable barbecues for the volunteers to collect.

Richard Gwilt came to the rescue of a car owner who had driven over a child’s scooter. The scooter could not be extracted until Richard went beyond the call of duty and dislodged it by getting under the car. A lady visitor wanted to call for an ambulance thinking that he had been run over!

Nasty collision between an ambulance on call, and a motorist at the entrance to Monument Drive. The car driver left the scene before the police arrived.

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Bob Davis Do

Posted on August 29, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

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The Trust put on a “leaving” event for Bob Davis our Head Forrester of forty two years service, at Base Camp last Thursday evening. Chrissy was responsible for the fine fare, and speakers arrived from Head Office. Susie has said that it was a great success and that even Bob enjoyed it. He is well known for his cynicism, and he will be remembered for his manner from the video link below. It is hard to believe that he was at Ashridge before the Trust arrived – he was employed by Brown and Merry the Land Agents who ran the Estate. His work has been admired and derided by so called experts. Richard Mabey the well known author and naturalist once referred to Bob as a “hooligan with a chain saw”. He quite likes that.

Click here for the video

 

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Walk Bob Forester’s Way – (please complete the poll below)

Posted on August 24, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

The Trust have just added another route to their series of walks – known as the Forester’s Walk. The four mile stroll starts at Barrack Square and takes you around Aldbury common and Thunderdell Wood.
Way-mark signs in the form of roundels are placed at strategic points along the route and some are fitted with plaques giving historical details of the spot. You can join or leave the route at any point but you would probably need a map to regain your orientation with the start point. The plaques were funded by the Aylesbury N T Association who collect income on behalf of local N T properties. Richard Gwilt our ranger has completed the walk and only got lost once – he retraced his steps to find the correct way. The Trust do not have a leaflet on the walk, so it is not clear how it will be promoted.
You are probably aware that Bob Davis the N T Head Forester will soon be leaving Ashridge for early retirement – after forty two years service! It would be a fitting tribute to him if the new walk could be known as the Bob Forester’s Walk. The plaques would not need to be changed, but any new map or leaflet would include the revised name.
What do you think?

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Volunteers get together

Posted on August 21, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

The informal meeting of volunteers organised by Babs, took place at the V C on Monday morning. It was an opportunity for the volunteers from the Estate Office to meet up with those from the V C.

The resulting conversations and chatter were so intense that the volunteers had to decamp to the garden, to hear themselves speak!

Babs will no doubt arrange for another meeting in a few months time for the kindred spirits.

Thanks to Posh Janet for the  cheese scones and tea cake.

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Sunday Volunteers 14th August

Posted on August 19, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

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Having dealt with Northchurch common, then Berkhamsted common, the bracken rollers have now arrived at Ivinghoe common. This supports the long term plan of the Trust to remove extensive areas of bracken from the landscape, so that it is only limited to the edges of open areas. In preparation for machine rolling, the team are required to traverse the chosen area pulling a rope to disturb any wildlife. Birds nests on the ground are then marked with coloured poles to avoid further disturbance. Regular rolling over time is an eco-friendly way to kill off this pernicious plant.

Some members of the team literally disappeared into the bracken on occasions, and walking or fighting your way through bracken is more difficult than you can imagine – says Adele Gould.

Two hundred years ago our bracken would have been a prized possession for the local commoners from Ringshall, Aldbury, or Northchurch and Berkhamsted, who had rights to cut it at this time of year. It was collected and dried, and used for bedding for their livestock – most commoners kept a pig, and some held cattle. It was sometimes used for fires.

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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.

 

 

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Calling all Volunteers

Posted on August 14, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

The long awaited meeting with the Trust takes place Monday 15th August 11.00am at the VC. Homemade refreshments will be provided by Posh Janet.

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Hotel accommodation for invertebrates.

Posted on August 11, 2016 by ashridgevolunteersblog

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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 by a group of youngsters from “Wild Wednesday”, it has now been remodelled and roofed by the volunteers, and offers the latest refinements in rural living. Built in a prominent protected position, with good access and extensive views of the visitors, it is designed to catch the morning sunshine.

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