It's been another busy week so far. On Monday I took a team of volunteers down to Tern meadow where we cleared back the vegetation that grows along the track to the new fishermans car park. Amongst the usual nettles and brambles there was a large amount of hemlock water dropwort - the most toxic plant for animals and humans that grows in Britain. It looks very similar to flat-leafed parsley and gives off a pleasant parsley/celery scent when crushed. We cut it down with brushing hooks, taking care to wear gloves and not expose our skin to the sap. It is only fatal if ingested so we made sure that no-one was tempted to give it a taste!

Oenanthe crocata - Hemlock Water Dropwort



We have also been processing seasoned logs to sell and use in the Visitor Reception log burner; repainting the white gate near the front of the mansion; renewing and repainting signs; cutting back some overgrown willow; weeding newly-planted hedges; and creating a new space fo a temporary tree nursery. Today I also got to practice my digging skills as we needed a 2-metre deep hole digging for some ground percolation tests. Those of you that know me will know that I am not exactly blessed with height and muscles so I swapped my spade for a JCB - job done in a fraction of the time! (Well, once I'd got out of the dip I was temporarily stuck in!)

I drove back to the office today across the deer park and was treated to a close up of some bucks as they grazed and sunned themselves near the footpath. The deer are now in their summer coats and look absolutely beautiful. The buck's antlers are already growing back and the new antlers are covered in 'velvet' - the skin that covers the bone until it is finished growing. I'm keeping my eyes peeled for the first fawns, they are due to arrive any time now but they are often hard to spot for the first month or so as they stay well hidden in the long grass and bracken. If you see a fawn then please let the wardens know, but remember not to go too close or to touch them as they will be rejected by their mother if they detect human scent on them. And of course, it's more important than ever to keep dogs on a lead when their are little ones about!

Owl boxes

Over the weekend the senior park and estate warden, Colin, and myself put up two new barn owl boxes in the hope that we will attract a few more breeding pairs into the park. Barn owl boxes need careful placing - the should be 3-5 metres high, face east, north-east or south-east and have no branches obstructing the flight path to and from the opening. It is also advantageous to have other branches nearby for the young owlets to practice moving about close to the nest. We found the perfect spots in some veteran oak trees in the deer park, one at the east side and one on the west. The boxes are away from the public paths to ensure that the owls are not disturbed by noise.

Accompanying us in our task was volunteer Peter Marshall who has very kindly spent hours building us a variety of bird boxes, from barn owl nest boxes to robin boxes. His talent with woodwork is a definite asset to the Trust so I would like to thank him again for his time and effort.


Peter, left, and Colin with one of the boxes
that Peter has made for us



 

 

Plant Fair, kites and Attingham TV!

This weekend (May 7th and 8th) is the Plant and Garden Fair here at Attingham. There are plants, tools and materials available to buy, birdbox making for families, refreshments, guided tours of the Walled Garden and a plethora of gardening experts ready to answer your garden-related questions. Unfortunately, after weeks of sunshine and warmth, the weather has chosen this weekend to send us some downpours but hey, it's good for the plants! Pack your raincoat, put on your wellies and come and have a wander.

A red kite - one was spotted flying over Attingham
at 8.15 this morning

As well as the Fair our Engagement Warden, Ron, was up early this morning to give a dawn chorus tour and will be doing the same tomorrow. The tours are pre-booked as there is a breakfast after several hours of enjoying the birdsong so if you have missed it this year, keep us in mind for next May. Ron counted 37 different species this morning - worth getting up at 3am for! When I arrived at work this morning there was an additional treat as volunteer John spotted a Red Kite soaring over the north end of the Stables courtyard. We watched it for about half a minute before it left our sights. I tried to get a photo but alas, too slow. It was only the second time have I have seen a red kite in my life, and the first time in Shropshire. Once near extinction in this country, kites are making a comeback thanks to protection and re-introduction schemes and are now becoming easier to spot. They are a beautiful bird, very distinctive with their red/brown colouring, forked tail and angled wings, and I will be keeping my eyes peeled for more sightings across the Estate.

Finally, I would like to point you in the direction of Attingham TV! We have over a dozen short films for you to watch on a wide range of topics - from feeding the deer and hedgelaying to behind the scenes in the Mansion and what goes on on a Working Holiday. New films are added regularly so have a look and see a bit more of what goes on across the Park and Estate. You can find the films by following this link: Attingham Park TV

Easter

It's been a fantastic Easter at Attingham - sun, sun and more sun! The childrens trails have been hugely popular, there have been rides around the deer park in the tractor and trailer and guided walks around the park and gardens. The bluebells are out in their full glory - the picture above is of Rookery Wood with the path that leads from the Stables down to the Mansion.

The last week has seen the wardens embarking on a large fencing project on some of the fields that we look after along the banks of the River Severn. We are using sweet chestnut posts instead of treated softwoods as they are naturally hard and long-lasting without any chemicals. We have also been stacking wood that was felled over the winter to thin out overcrowded woodland so that it can season and be processed into firewood. It's hard work in this heat! But working outside in the fresh air and feeling the sun on your arms and watching the flora and fauna around you come to life is why this job is so brilliant.

Cowslips in the Outer Courtyard at the back of the Mansion

Working holiday

This week a working holiday has been taking place in the deer park. The National Trust runs these holidays throughout the year at properties all over the country as an opportunity for people to work on projects alongside wardens and gardeners, experience new places, learn new skills and make friends. My interest in wardening was sparked off by my taking part on working holidays for several years so you never know where they could take you!

Anyway, this week's group have been replacing sections of fence in the deer park where the old posts have become rotten in the base. It's essential that we keep the deer park in good nick as the deer have been here for a long time and we would hate to lose them! The team were led by Mark Sayfritz, a regular contractor at Attingham who has plenty of experience in fencing, and assisted by myself. They have put in a fantastic effort and worked hard all week - lots of digging, hammering and driving in the posts with a drivall. This fence will hold up for several decades before it needs replacing again, so thank you very much guys!



How do you know if the hole is deep enough for the post?
Stick Fiona in of course!

 

Working holiday leader Elizabeth keeps
the fence posts straight and tidy



Everyone gets to improve on their
hammering skills



   

 

Pip the dog enjoys plenty of attention!




 



A good sturdy stretch of deer fence - six feet high to keep
the fallow herd in and everything else out!



On Wednesday, while the holiday team enjoyed a much-earned day off to explore the local area, I took a small team of volunteers to Wheathill Farm on the edge of the Estate to plant up two Black Poplar trees. Wild black poplar are becoming increasingly rare in the UK so we had a male and female tree to plant near our only other mature black poplar in the hope that they will grow and pollinate and produce us some 'babies' to plant in the future. Before we could plant them I cleared several large willows to create space and a break in the tree canopy to let light through to the young trees while the others burned the brash.

The poplars are planted next to the only other black poplar on the Estate (tree on right)

Matt, Adam and Bob after a long day of cutting and burning brash

More bluebells...

Today Clive, one of our buggy-driver volunteers, kindly pointed out a clump of bluebells that are now in flower in Rookery wood:

I think this beautiful weather is encouraging them out early - roll on the Easter holidays!

BLUEBELLS!



The first bluebell of the season



Sorry for the lack of activity lately folks, I have been off work with a virus. Back on track now though, and happy to have lots to update - starting with my favourite wildflower. Today, aroung 4.15pm, I found the first bluebell of the season out in flower near the clock tower at the back of the mansion. It's looking a bit lonely at the moment but its here, and there will be thousands more to follow! In a few more weeks, Attingham will be carpeted in blue - Rookery Wood (between the stables and the tea room), the Mile Walk and the woods between the suspension bridge and the Deer Park are all spots around the park with fantastic displays of bluebells. Ron, our Engagement Warden, will be giving guided walks later on in April to show visitors some of the best views. I have alerted the National Trust 'Bluebell Watch' and am now eagerly awaiting the rest of the flowers to come.

Other wildflowers are also making an appearance now, including these snake's head fritillaries and oxlips on the bank near the clock tower:



Snake's head fritillary - unmistakable with its purple

chessboard patterning



A white variation of the snake's head fritillary






 

Oxlips



The horse chestnuts are in leaf

Across the park and estate tree buds are bursting into leaf and the cherries and blackthorn are blossoming. I love the vibrant greens of leaves when they are young, particularly those of horse chestnut before they darken with age and usually become marred with leaf blotch in summer time. Today, the air around the mansion was filled with the scent of freshly cut grass - a definite sign that winter is over!

Finally, several weeks ago Attingham was visited by a group of Trustees and the Director-General of the Trust, Dame Fiona Reynolds DBE. They enjoyed a tour of the walled garden and visited some of the rooms in the mansion that have been altered as part of the Attingham Re-discovered project. My manager very kindly took a photo for me on the day, so here they are with some of the senior management team:

The Director-General and Trustees join us at Attingham
for the day