Earlier this year we were asked to contribute to The September edition of environmental SCIENTIST – the journal of the #InstitutionofEnvironmentalSciences(IES) – examines the evolving concept of ‘net gain’ in environmental policy frameworks, from both a UK and global perspective.
For the first time in a generation, Alscot Estate has the opportunity to consider its long term land use strategy. This comes at a time where the agricultural transition in England, alongside a broader political agenda of tackling environmental crises, means that rural land management is now focused not only on quality food production, but also on environmental provision and social value.
As a result, Alscot’s ambition is to farm in a regenerative manner and from September 2024, we began farming regeneratively on “home farm” land.
The year 6 students from The Croft Preparatory School ventured to the Estate again this week to take part in nature studies on the biodiversity land at Alscot. The children took part in orienteering, identifying native tree species, an invertebrates study and a wildlife and plant ID walk. We hope the activity day inspired the children to become a positive voice for nature in future, and based on their enthusiasm, even on a damp day, we have no doubt that they will.
Click HERE for the video
Alscot Park was the venue on Friday 9th Dec for the C&W Chamber of Commerce South Warwickshire Branch Meeting. The topic of conversation was green skills and how businesses are focusing on becoming more sustainable. It was a great opportunity to network with like-minded individuals and businesses and share thoughts, ideas and connections.
For the first time in a generation, Alscot Estate has the opportunity to consider its long term land use strategy. This comes at a time where the agricultural transition in England, alongside a broader political agenda of tackling environmental crises, means that rural land management is now focused not only on quality food production, but also on environmental provision and social value.
As a result, Alscot’s ambition is to farm in a regenerative manner and from September 2024, we began farming regeneratively on “home farm” land.
Joining the electric revolution with our cutting-edge fleet of electric vehicles!
Our team are experiencing eco-friendly transportation without compromising on style or performance. Say goodbye to gas and hello to a cleaner, greener future. Oh and to the Scooby Buzz as this one has been affectionately named by its eco-friendly driver, Darren.
On Thursday 6th June Alscot Estate invited guests to a private screening of the documentary film, Six Inches of Soil. The film tells the inspiring story of three young British farmers standing up against the industrial food system and transforming the way they produce food - to heal the soil, our health and provide for local communities. The screening took place at Everyman, Stratford upon Avon and included a drinks reception, introduction to the film by Colin Ramsay, Film Director, and a Q&A session. The panel included, Colin Ramsay, Emma Holman-West, Estate Owner, Paddy Hoare and Tom Gurney, Perdix Partnership and Simon Cutter, Farmer and Founder of Model Farm Society. Simon began rearing organic livestock and organic produce long before the ‘Organic bandwagon’ started to roll in the wake of the BSE crisis in the early 1990’s. Featuring on BBC Country file, Simon has been a pioneer in pasture fed, organic and free-range livestock with a passion for nature and natural food produce.
Lead by Tom Genders and accompanied by other enthusiastic teachers, the year 6 students from The Croft Preparatory School ventured to the Estate’s BNG land to take part in practical nature studies. The children took on a series of tasks including, orienteering, identifying native tree species, an invertebrates study and a wildlife ID walk where they identified bird song. The activity day is a big hit with the children and school, and is now in its third successful year.
Recently, on a beautiful warmer than average September day (poignant given the nature of the event), we had the pleasure of hosting leaders and members of our local authority - Stratford upon Avon District Council. Following the change in local government earlier this year, members of the Alscot Estate team, including Emma Holman-West and Jack Kennedy, introduced the Alscot Biodiversity Net Gain Project and how Alscot is contributing to deliver the UK’s climate change ambitions.
Watch on You Tube
The 1st Tiddington Scouts joined us in June this year on their volunteering week. The group of 10-14 year olds joined forester, Dave, and learnt various aspects of forestry and woodland management, including the importance of providing habitats for wildlife species, and why we need to protect young trees in the wild. The group helped in various roles by collecting used tree guards, placing sheeps wool into tree guards to discourage deer, and they dug trenches on the edge of the woodlands to help create habitats for invertebrates. The Scouts were really engaged and have asked to come back another time!
The year 6 students from The Croft Preparatory School ventured to the Estate again this week to take part in nature studies on the biodiversity land at Alscot. The children took part in orienteering, identifying native tree species, an invertebrates study and a wildlife and plant ID walk. We hope the activity day inspired the children to become a positive voice for nature in future, and based on their enthusiasm, even on a damp day, we have no doubt that they will.
Click HERE for the video
This was us, July 2019, David Lowe -Team Leader, Ecology, Historic Environment & Landscape at Warwickshire County Council David Cole - Ecologist WCC, Stephanie Matthews - Natural England Kurt Goodman & Sam Arthur - FPCR and Jonathan Thompson - Alscot’s BNG Consultant, walking, talking, observing and considering the future of biodiversity net gain at Alscot. These photos were taken during the two years of research and monitoring before we finally entered into a min. 30yr contractual term in April 2020, as one of the first private landowners in the UK to offer BNG land to developers, through a formal, accountable and monitored scheme.
As part of the Estate’s overall long-term strategic vision, we operate a policy to explore and implement sustainable practices across the Estate. Our aim is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 although progress is already good and we are very confident that we can achieve our goal ahead of target.
The new initiatve for 2023 sees the full team gather twice a year to focus on and discuss ways in which we could asssit the environment. The level of genuine interest and contributions has so far been hugely gratifying, and as much as we all have very serious concerns for the planet, the enthusiasm for the environment in relation to the Estate, local community and our future generations is encouraging to say the least.
Alscot Park was the venue on Friday 9th Dec for the C&W Chamber of Commerce South Warwickshire Branch Meeting. The topic of conversation was green skills and how businesses are focusing on becoming more sustainable. It was a great opportunity to network with like-minded individuals and businesses and share thoughts, ideas and connections.
On an exceptionally cold and wet February Sunday, students from four local primary schools braved the biting weather to plant young fruit trees to create a new orchard at Alscot.
Fast forward 8 months to autumn, with plenty of sunshine and TLC over the spring and summer months and the trees are all flourishing.
In January 2021 we started the Estate’s Ditch Maintenance Program. Covering circa 4,000 acres of land it’s a huge and on-going undertaking, concentrating on Clifford Chambers and Atherstone on Stour in the first year, extending to land in Preston on Stour and Alderminster, and the rotation system allows wildlife to recolonize.
We have been shortlisted as a finalist in the Coventry/Warwickshire Live Business Awards 2022 in the Green Business of the Year category for the Alscot Biodiversity Project.
The Awards celebrate the city's finest businesses, entrepreneurs, and organisations across 12 different categories
