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.
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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.
To our visitors delight, whether a botanist, horticulturist or those that simply have a genuine interest in beautiful gardens, the newly established Ziggy garden and recently planted parkland, both featured this year in our popular annual event; Alscot's Alternative to Chelsea.
Held over two days on 12th & 13th June, it was damp but the grounds and gardens looked stunning and were very well received by the 180 visitors.
In February 2019 feature writer and editor Gill Sutherland met with Emma, at Alscot Park, to discuss the Parkland Restoration Project and to see the progress of the planting for herself. The interview formed a feature that appears in the March 2019 edition of the Stratford Herald Focus Magazine.
Front cover features Emma with two of her three children, James and Isla Holman-West.
Following an Environment Agency Survey and a Heritage Statement that was passed by SDC works took place in December to repair the weir and create an eel pass. Some 70 sheets of tracking was laid in order to protect the parkland from heavy plant machinery. Luckily water levels remained low the works went ahead as scheduled. An eel pass provides assistance to migrating eels travelling up stream where they would normally encounter obstructions such as the weir.
Photo; circa 1800
Saturday 12th January and “Wedgey” made his way to Alscot to conduct a live interview with Emma Holman-West and Forester, David Arnold. The interview, regarding the Parkland Restoration Project and the re-introduction of the Elm tree to the Estate, featured on BBC Coventry & Warwickshire . If you missed the interview and would like to listen, please follow the link https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p06vy4pw
It has been a project long-time in planning and planting has now begun.
We are currently working on a ten year landscape plan, for the outer parkland, which follows a survey carried out by Professor Tom Williamson, University of East Anglia, on the history of the landscape. The survey identifies areas, such as the “Lynches”, and explains that in the middle decades of the eighteenth century this particular area of scrub and woodland was occupied by a detached ‘rococo’ pleasure ground, containing a circuit path and a number of ornamental buildings and structures. It is Emma's ambition to recreate and reinstate some of these historic features and in addition enhance planting across the 100 hectare park.
The Estate’s annual Bonfire and Fireworks Spectacular, held at The Bell on Friday 2nd November, proved a huge success with the crowds and for Stratford Cricket Club. The Bell provided a BBQ and bar whilst DJ Bobby Hunt entertained the adults and children alike. Glowing swords, headbands and windmills could be seen in abundance in the dark, the club ran a tombola and the fireworks were a huge hit.
July 2018
What a glorious evening, on Thursday 19th July, as Alscot hosted the annual cricket event and the Alscot XI took on the RCMA Select XI. The Estate opted to 'bat' first and went about it exceptionally well. The top order were in fluent mood and were soon piling on the runs. After a well-deserved drinks break (with the odd beer doing wonders for the RCMA sporting abilities), RCMA struck back well with a cluster of wickets and kept Alscot to 159 in their 20 overs.
On Sunday 13th May 2018 The England Team lifted the winning trophy after competing in the DAKS Home International Mounted Games Championships. Teams from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland competed for the title over four days, in the presence of the Queen, at Royal Windsor.
David Domonay, based at 1c Atherstone Barns, is a Chartered Horticulturist and television gardener, presenting on ITV’s Love Your Garden. You can read his weekly gardening column in The Sunday Mirror newspaper, and check out his monthly article about growing vegetables and fruit in Grow Your Own Magazine. He also appears as a resident gardener on ITV’s This Morning with appearances on many more TV shows.
