Alscot Donate a Tree to Community Project

Alscot Donate a Tree to Community Project

Alscot has donated a beautiful oak tree to Nettlefold Garden, just one of the projects run by Moor Pool Heritage Trust; a charity formed specifically to acquire the community facilities for the benefit of the local and wider community. The tree has been donated and planted as part of The Queen's Green Canopy initiative to mark The Queen's Platinum Jubilee this year. The tree will be formally recognised at an event over the Jubilee weekend 2-5th June 2022.

To learn more about The MPHT follow the link http://moorpoolhall.org.uk/.../moor-pool-heritage-trust.html

Muddy Good Fun

Muddy Good Fun

Despite the heavy rain and biting cold wind, it was muddy boots, wet weather gear and big smiles all the way at the Alscot Biodiversity Project Tree Planting Workshop on Sunday 13th February.

The Croft Preparatory School have embraced the collaboration with Alscot and Mr Tom Genders, Head of The Croft Eco Club, keen gardener, and environmentalist, held a voluntary Tree Planting Workshop for local primary school children.

Refurbishment Project

Refurbishment Project

Taking advantage of an opportunity to refurbish this traditional and substantial farmhouse with gardens, we set about work in Nov 2021 to update the property to suit modern day living.

The existing kitchen, downstairs WC and dining room were opened up into one large family space, with a brand new WC being converted from a pantry. A new fitted utility room was created from a disused cold store and an independent space, suitable for a home office or gym, was created from a boiler room.

New Seats for Forest School

New Seats for Forest School

Our work with local primary schools, through the Alscot Biodiversity Project, took us to Bridgetown Primary School, to help out in their eco garden. When Mrs Bishop appealed for help, we were delighted to assist with replacement timber for the children to use as seats around the fire pit. The rotten wood will remain in the garden and over time will form a habitat and shelter for wildlife.

In ‘Forest School’, the children are allowed to explore for themselves the natural environment, learning to appreciate and gain a respect for nature.

As a little gift from us, our foresters made the children a couple of timber mushrooms.

New Life At Historic Site

New Life At Historic Site

In the spring of 2021 we bid farewell to an old tree sited in a historic location on the Estate. The Common Walnut tree at the site of the former Cutlin Mill had been declared unsafe, as age, disease and environmental factors had all contributed to its demise and it was reduced to a standing monolith. In an attempt to resurrect life into the old site, located in a prominent position of Atherstone on Stour, we have today planted a replacement common walnut tree. The Juglans Regia, a large deciduous tree, attaining heights of 25–35 m (80 to 120 ft), and a trunk up to 2 m (6 ft) in diameter, has been planted in the perfect spot to afford this light demanding tree plenty of sunlight.

A Special Avenue of Trees in Recognition of a Special Birthday

A Special Avenue of Trees in Recognition of a Special Birthday

Pre-war, an avenue of trees stood on Alscot land that started at Lodge Park and swept across the land as far as Top Park. Using the two remaining oak trees as the starting point, a new avenue of oak trees has been planted across Lodge Park in the first phase to recreate the avenue that was lost to war time needs.

The new avenue is being planted to recognise James Holman-West’s forthcoming 21st birthday. Each of the 42 oak trees, 21 either side, were originally planted on the Estate over 10 years ago in a nursery woodland and have been transported using a mechanical tree spade.

It is hoped that eventually we can continue the avenue with another phase of planting.

Tree Planting Season 2021/22

Tree Planting Season 2021/22

Our team are busy planting 465 new trees in a variety of species in our woodlands.

This is to combat the devastation caused by Ash Die-Back, a disease with disastrous results for the landscape and biodiversity.

This method of forestry helps prevent major loss and counteracts the devastating impact on the woodlands and connecting habitats. Without action the disease will spread and we could lose more trees than necessary as well as connecting hedge rows and other trees on surrounding land.

In addition we have planted 1,318 hedging plants of different species in various locations, by way of a positive attempt to rejuvenate existing hedgerows, as well as creating new ones.

New hedgerows follow Natural England’s suggested species to encourage biodiversity and are a mix of 80% hawthorn and the remaining 20% made up of field maple, dog wood, hazel, midland hawthorn, spindle, wild privet, blackthorn and purging buckthorn.

Alscot Community Calendar 2022

Alscot Community Calendar 2022

The Alscot Community Calendar raised £1800 for the Church of St Mary, Preston on Stour.

We felt that the images shared on the Alscot Community Facebook page, all taken by amateur photographers depicting life on the Estate, deserved to be shared further and so we created a calendar for the coming year as a platform to showcase a selection of these wonderful images.

All images were blind chosen (no names on the photographs) and the calendar features photographs from 15 different members of the local community.

Alscot Introduces County & District Council Members to BNG

Alscot Introduces County & District Council Members to BNG

As a leading project of its type, we are pleased to continually welcome Government officials and representatives and members of local and county authorities, to the Alscot Biodiversity Project and our aims for carbon neutrality.

Our latest event took in the site on foot and we, along with our team of expert ecologists, showcased our current flagship project and future development plan to expand Biodiversity land.

New Alscot Biodiversity Education Logo Launched

New Alscot Biodiversity Education Logo Launched

Earlier this summer we held a presentation to announce the winners and award the prizes of the Alscot Biodiversity Art Competition; a project for local primary school children to design a logo that represents nature in Warwickshire.
Since then we have been working hard to finalise the official logo to represent the connection between education and the Alscot Biodiversity Project, and particularly our engagement with local primary schools. The creation is a collaboration of elements taken from some of the winning pieces of art and we think this depicts biodiversity on the Estate, and our responsibility to the planet, beautifully.

David's Retirement Party

David's Retirement Party

Following David Hall’s retirement last year, we were finally able to gather together to pay tribute to David’s long service.

The sun shone and the setting was perfect for friends and family to wish David the happiest of retirements.

After more than 60 years working on Estate land, man and boy, David took retirement in 2020.

On Tuesday 7th September, the Holman-West family invited David to their home, Alscot Park, along with colleagues, friends and family to enjoy afternoon tea and celebrate the retirement he truly deserves.