The snowdrops are officially back at Attingham! The first flowers appeared around two weeks ago and while we are still a few weeks off their full glory, more and more are flowering every day. Hopefully by the time our snowdrop walks begin, the grounds will be carpeted in white. Once again, some have been rescued from the ground where a new path is going in and snowdrops are available to buy in the shop so you can start your own patch at home in the garden.
January is flying by, with lots going on across the Estate. Our hedgelaying volunteers have been ploughing on, laying hedges in several places on tenant farms and spending another day at Wenlock Edge coppicing hazel and collecting hedge stakes and binders:
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| Choosing the right pieces to make stakes and binders... |
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| Using the stakes to hold the hedge in place (pic by Terry Carr) |
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| Hedge bound, trimmed and a rightfully proud team! (pic by Terry Carr) |
Elsewhere in the park, work has started on the new playing field area behind the orchard. This will be a new space for visitors to enjoy where children can run around, play ball games, climb and crawl around some specially made structures; there will also be another catering unit and toilet facilities. It's early days yet so watch this space for the grand opening!
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| Head Warden Colin working on the new play area - more pics to follow over the coming months! |
Last week we also went on an oak rescue mission! Around 20 self-seeded oaks were carefully dug up from along a headland to prevent them being damaged or lost when the adjacent hedge is trimmed, and to save them from nibbling rabbits. They are currently safe in our rabbit-proof tree nursery and will be used across the Estate as standard trees in hedge lines and as future parkland oaks. Oaks have a notoriously deep taproot and the recent weather meant the ground was wet and heavy, so well done to that team for all the hard work digging and lifting!
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| Home-grown oak - a future giant? |
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