News and events for autumn and winter 2018 | Leicestershire | Lincolnshire Northamptonshire | | Rutland Near you

Changing colours © Images/John Millar/Arnhel de Serra and nature’s harvest

Autumn is the season of spectacular colour, fungi and harvest and it’s a great time to get outside to make the most of the fading summer sun as the morning mists begin. You can experience the changing seasons at our special places across the East Midlands.

lumber Park in Longshaw, you can roll up Nottinghamshire is the your sleeves and get stuck in perfect place to get active at the Muck in Day (14 Oct) to help perhaps by reading a book in Cin the outdoors; great for us look after woods on the estate. the gardens or try your hand at your health and well-being. There’s At Hardwick, enjoy roasted apples in visiteering – lots of places need help yoga for those who like things a bit the restaurant after a day looking for to collect fallen leaves. more serene and the Trust 10k and fungi - blue stalks and fly agaric have Whether you’re visiting or Park Run for those who like pace. been spotted in the parkland. volunteering, your support helps The 20-plus miles of cycle paths At Gunby Estate, Hall and us care for special places in the are great for taking in the autumn Gardens in Lincolnshire see the Midlands. Thank you. colours. Close by, at Mr Straw’s dazzling displays of dahlias and House in Nottinghamshire, it’s all michaelmas daises which attract Halloween happenings about cacti as the varieties in the the bees and butterflies until late Follow us... greenhouse begin to flower, some in the year and at Belton House in or your local National Trust place on There’s frighteningly good fun to can decorate a pumpkin in your own only for one day. Lincolnshire the sound of bellowing social media. Share your days out be had during October half-term spooky style and add it to the display. In Derbyshire, has deer fills the parkland as the rutting with us and get the latest updates with pumpkins, ghosts, ghouls and Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire has Deadwood is Good Wood walks season begins. on summer events and activities creepy crawlies. a Halloween whodunit (20 Oct to 4 during October (Tues, Fri and Sat If you’re retired or taking time Throughout October, Canons Nov) and in at 11am and 2pm) to highlight off work, why not visit our places #NTMidlands Ashby in Northamptonshire will run has a spooky trail in the woods (27 the importance of deadwood and during the week in the autumn? their annual pumpkin trail, while at Oct to 4 Nov). the habitats it supports. While at Take advantage of a quieter time Tattershall Castle in Lincolnshire, Take a look at the What’s On pages dare you visit in the black of night for more Halloween fun near you. (26, 27 & 31 Oct) and hear about the resident ghosts of the castle? Calke Abbey in Derbyshire hosts a pumpkin party (31 Oct) where you

For details of all there is to see and do, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/midlands or take a look at the ‘What’s On’ section www.nationaltrust.org.uk/midlands 1 Autumn and winter 2018 Rare meadowland saved in the

Two areas of farmland in the Peak District, with © National Trust rare wildflower rich hay meadows and wildlife rich grassland, have been saved for the nation.

wo areas of farmland in meadows and flower rich grassland Welcome to the autumn the Peak District, with rare which are not just beautiful to look edition of Near You. Twildflower rich hay meadows at, but are important habitats for and wildlife rich grassland, have wild plants and insects in particular. It is not an exaggeration to been saved for the nation. ‘This is testament to the

say that countryside faces the Thanks to legacies left to us generations of farmers that have © National Trust/Tom Harman; Michael Scott & Caters biggest change in a generation by generous supporters, we’ve cared for them and bucked the prompted by the Agriculture been able to buy High Fields near general trend. and Environment Bills and Longshaw and Greensides Farm ‘By buying this land we have you may have noticed that near , meaning we can now the opportunity to conserve and we are actively engaged in protect these very special areas of enhance what is there and work with conversations to try and get the Peak District for the future. other farmers and land managers to the best possible outcome. I Species rich grasslands, like those help care for the wider landscape.’ generally find that actions speak found at High Fields and Greensides, Over the coming months we’ll be louder than words, so you will are a vital part of our landscape deciding on the best way to manage see in this issue that we are as they support a wide variety of the land, both to encourage wildlife doing our best in the Midlands wildlife and plants. Despite this, to flourish and enable people to to work with farmers and other they have declined by around 97% experience these beautiful pockets partners to hold on to the over the last century, largely due to of the English countryside. landscapes that we love, as well the intensification of farming. Jon continues: ‘This is as find future uses of land that Rare examples of limestone the type of landscape we’d allow people to make a living. pavement are also a feature on never be able to protect We already have some great both farms, supporting a number without the financial help examples that demonstrate how of ferns and wild flowers. High of our supporters and we you can produce food in a much Fields also has a few dewponds, owe them a huge debt of more nature friendly way, as originally created as watering holes gratitude.’ highlighted at Attingham Park. for livestock, which now provide However, sometimes a wonderful wetland habitat for You can find out more acquiring really special pieces newts. about these two of land is the only way to Jon Stewart, General Manager for important acquisitions at ensure that beautiful places the Peak District, says: ‘Both farms www.nationaltrust.org. can survive and we believe have unusually large areas of hay uk/midlandsmeadows that this is the case for our last remaining hay meadows in the , which we have been able to do thanks to some An ambitious dynast, a woman who ‘Despite centuries of progress in unfair legacy and misrepresentative generous legacies. We will be married and outlived four husbands; many ways, attitudes to women and of her character. We Are Bess is about think a lot about remembrance this is how Bess of Hardwick is their experiences are not so very reclaiming Bess’ story.’ this autumn and I hope that commonly remembered, history different four centuries later.’ Working with Dr Turnbull and Dr those people who left legacies painting her as ‘proud, furious, The project also draws on Lipscomb, the Trust has enlisted a specifically to acquire land in Turning selfish and unfeeling’. We Are research commissioned by the Trust, number of modern-day women to the Peak District will feel that Bess, a new project from the undertaken by Dr Emma Turnbull consider how they relate to Bess. we have done their wishes team at Hardwick, Derbyshire from the University of Oxford. ‘With the help of modern women’s justice. When I visited on a June the tables demonstrates another side and ‘This is about overturning a reflections, Bess’ story can bring to day, surrounded by flowers and how her story resonates with remarkably resilient impression that light important parallels with the past, the song of a curlew, I could contemporary women. Bess was a domineering ‘shrew’, and make us rethink our present,’ honestly think of no better way on Bess’ a woman with an aggressive, added Dr Lipscomb. to be remembered. ‘Bess’ life has much to say to us ‘masculine’ temperament,’ explains today about operating as a woman Dr Turnbull. Photographed portraits of these story in a man’s world, the way many ‘The source of this devastating women form part of an exhibition in experiences of women transcend image was her effectively ‘ex’- Hardwick’s Long Gallery, which runs time, and about how we talk and husband, George Talbot, Earl of 3 Oct – 4 Nov 2018, and re-opens think about women,” comments Shrewsbury, who spread slanderous 16 Feb – 2 Jun 2019. Find out more Andy Beer historian and broadcaster, Dr rumours about her. Generations of and read some of the modern-day Suzannah Lipscomb, from the historians have repeated Shrewsbury’s stories at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ University of Roehampton and vitriolic words, helping perpetuate hardwick/features/we-are-bess Creative Director of We Are Bess. a misogynistic narrative – a deeply © National Trust Images/James Dobson A day in the life... Holly Kemish, Assistant Fundraising Consultant

I work across the Midlands region, important aspects of fundraising. our work. I also spend a lot of time from the Lincolnshire coast across I think people are surprised by looking into other sources of funding to the Welsh borders, so a typical how successful the National Trust for important projects across the day for me can often start with a second-hand bookshops are in the region. At the moment I am working drive out to a property. It is a real Midlands; last year we raised nearly with, amongst others, the Peak To support Clumber Park pleasure and privilege to be able to £300,000 to look after our special District and Clumber Park teams. Revitalised you can collect and work in some of the most beautiful places, at the same time as helping send your used postage stamps places in the region and I find it our visitors enjoy a ‘new’ read. You can find out more about the to: Fundraising Coordinator, exciting and inspiring to work with Also on a typical day I will be projects at these properties by Clumber Park, Estate Office, property teams to develop ways that helping properties to plan for events following the links: , Notts, S80 3AZ or find supporters like you can be involved as part of the ‘Inside the Trust’ out more about the project at: in our work. programme, which is organised for Find out more information www.nationaltrust.org.uk/appeal/ I help properties with their raffles supporters who have pledged to about the Peak District Appeal support-clumber-park and second-hand bookshops so I am leave a gift in their will or for those at: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ often asked questions about these who regularly donate and support PeakDistrictAppeal Thank you for your support. Clumber Park www.nationaltrust.org.uk/midlands 2 Autumn and winter 2018 Places to find fungi Autumn is the perfect time to explore our places and find rare fungi, and you can be part of our plans to look after places where you can spot them. Here’s our selection of fascinating fungi, but remember to leave them for others to find. To find out more visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/midsfungi

Dog’s Longshaw vomit Clumber Park Calke Abbey fungus 3 1 Peak District Nottinghamshire Derbyshire 5 Longshaw is a great place One of the most Calke’s parklands and to see fungi, with over a attractive and colourful veteran trees are host thousand different kinds fungi is frequently found in the to many kinds of fungi. to discover. The main pasture woodlands at Clumber Park. The As you enter the park, look grasslands are a good place to fly agaric is the iconic red and out for the parasol mushrooms Chicken of the woods start – look out for waxcaps, Gunby Estate, 2 white toadstool-shaped fungi 4 in the rough grass – these often fairy clubs, pinkgills and possibly Hall and Gardens that has a symbiotic relationship grow as big as dinner plates. One even a rare earth tongue. Join Lincolnshire with silver birch. Like many fungi of the rarest specimens at Calke our Fungi Photography Walk the fly agaric is poisonous so Derbyshire is the oak polypore, but this is & Talk event at Longshaw on 7 Fungi come in many different look but don’t touch! much harder to find. Kedleston’s woodland walks October. More details can be shapes and sizes, and often have provide opportunities to see found in the ‘What’s On’ section. common names that indicate many different species of trees what they look like. Look out for and fungi. One of the easiest dog’s vomit fungus, though this is to spot is the chicken-of-the- a slime mould and not a fungus, woods. You’ll find these large, © National Trust/Carl Hawke mostly found growing on areas wavy yellow-orange brackets of bark mulch. Another good find growing on oak, beech or is the giant polypore, a very large chestnut trees, especially along bracket fungus that usually grows the Wilderness Walk. at the base of mature trees. Parasol Waxcap Fly agaric mushroom

...and don’t forget to share your fungi finds with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Rehabilitating National Trust© Belton’s Stables Unexpected surprises

This spring saw the start of an Historically, the upper floors ambitious 12-month project to of the Stables were used as staff conserve and restore the 17th-century accommodation and included rooms Grade I listed Stables building at for the Head Groom and Head Belton House in Lincolnshire. Coachman. Before the builders A little-known part of this project moved in, a conservation team led by is the creation of a safe space for bats House Steward Sally Hancock worked Above: Children at Longshaw, dressed in nurses and orderlies uniforms from WW1. to roost in the attic of the building. to record and protect the decorative Right: Soldiers from the Great War. Heated bat boxes, blackout blinds, features within the Stables. Wallpaper, additional ridges and felt walls have in some places up to five layers thick, been installed to provide the best covers the walls. The conservation possible space for the existing bat team got an unexpected surprise in population. It’s hoped that this one of the bedrooms as Sally says: improved habitat will increase bat ’We noticed that the green pigment Commemorating 100 numbers in the future. had leached from the paper through The property team are working to the plaster, which is unusual. Our with ecologist Andrew Chick to tests found the pigment was arsenic, monitor the colony. Andrew says: a substance frequently used to create years since the end ‘Belton is a great place for wildlife. green wallpaper in the early 19th Ensuring the bats are retained century’. within the stables is critical to the While this work is taking place, you conservation status of these amazing can enjoy a tea-room with a view; The of the Great War creatures’. Pavilion Café is on Belton’s front lawn overlooking the house and parkland and is where the Brownlow family November sees 100 years since Longshaw Lodge in the Peak born in France, but had their picnics in the park. . The the end of the First World War. District was used as a convalescent through his mother’s new Stables Restaurant will open in Properties throughout the East home for soldiers during the First employment and then unexpected spring 2019, refurbished to reflect the Midlands will be marking this World War. Now, visitors are being death, he ended up growing up significant history of the building. historic occasion in a variety of invited to remember this part of on the Clumber estate and later ways, highlighting how the Great Longshaw’s history. Children from became the House Carpenter. Take a peek inside Belton’s bat War touched these places and the local schools will experience life Thanks to his grandson Richard, hotel by following this link: www. people connected to them. through the eyes of the soldiers, Clumber Park are now following nationaltrust.org.uk/belton-house/ Belton in Lincolnshire is hosting and the nurses who cared for them Rudolph’s diary online from his features/beltons-bats a special event featuring poetry at Longshaw – including dressing time serving in France with the readings titled ‘Battles Over, up in contemporary clothing made Sherwood Foresters. You can join © National Trust© Images/BatConservation Trust/HughClark A Nations’ Tribute’. The site is by volunteers. in the conversation on Twitter by also taking part in the national On 7 and 10 November, you using #clumberatwar and catch Beacons of Light commemoration can hear about new findings regular real time updates from programme. Belton Park was and photographs discovered by Rudolph’s diary at www.twitter. initially used for temporary volunteer historian Thelma Griffiths, com/ClumberParkNT accommodation for thousands of which focuses on the pivotal role soldiers about to go through basic that the nurses of Longshaw played You can read more about all of training. By 1915, the parkland on the home front. these stories and the impact of was housing around 20,000 of Clumber Park in the war on the places we care for Kitchener’s Army, complete with a Nottinghamshire has been by visiting www.nationaltrust.org. church, YMCA huts and a separate following the fascinating diary of uk/the-great-war military hospital. Rudolph Schmitt. Rudolph was

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/midlands 3 Autumn and winter 2018 © National Trust/India Black News in brief Black Dolls: The Power of Representation

Piano conservation at Mr The National Trust Museum of Childhood, with immersive exhibition with the aim of helping all Straw’s House the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, is proud communities discover what life was like for black to be offering display space to Museumand, a children growing up in Britain through the ages. Amongst the many historic unique, vibrant, creative organisation dedicated Black dolls are part of our shared history and cultural objects at Mr Straw’s in to commemorating and celebrating the Caribbean heritage, and through the exhibition, we’re keen Nottinghamshire stand two contribution to life in the UK. to discover how both black and non-black children pianos, Florence’s personal piano The exhibition is displayed on homely ‘bedroom experienced them – and their effect on childhood.’ and one that was given to William shelves’ and in our project gallery’s conservation Thank you to Museumand and all the volunteers Jnr. After years of silence, these space. Displays feature our black dolls and related who have helped us to put this exhibition together. instruments require conservation collections, from a 1915 Topsy-Turvy doll to our newly to restore the mechanisms and acquired 1974 Lt. Uhura doll, alongside a film that The exhibition will run until 4 November and we’ll reinstate the sound of music back explores views of black dolls. be celebrating Black History Month, with ‘Have into the house. Museumand say, ‘We have put together this Your Say Saturday’ on 6 October. Find out how you can support this conservation at www.

nationaltrust.org.uk/ National Trust© fundraising-at-mr-straws Skydancer returns to the Peak District Get a first behind- After four years of absence, a hen harrier nest was found the-scenes glance by a volunteer this spring on moorland owned by the National Trust, with fledgling chicks of Lyveden Manor inside. Despite being protected by law, studies have found that We’re inviting you to get a behind the To do this, we’ll be opening up hen harrier numbers in the UK scenes experience of Lyveden Manor – the ground floor of the manor to have been constrained by illegal currently not open to the public – and special booked-visits throughout this population control associated help us to shape its future. The Trust winter, to reveal more of Sir Thomas with grouse moor management. acquired the manor back in 2013, and Tresham’s fascinating story and hear Working with our tenants, we we’ve been working on plans to open what you think in terms of shaping are trying to show it doesn’t the building up to the public ever that future visitor journey. have to be like this and we are so since. We’ll be testing out some new pleased to see the results of our Through the Lyveden Reconnected story-telling techniques during this collaborative efforts bearing fruit. project, we’re incorporating the time, which will mean each experience For the latest updates on how historic building and surrounding will be unique. It’s an exciting time to Bridging hearts and the chicks are doing, and to find grounds into the future experience of be a pivotal part of shaping the future out more about Hen Harriers in the site, and we’d really like your help visitor experience of Lyveden. the Peak District and our efforts to decide how we use the brand new During your experience, you will be minds at Clumber Park to protect them, visit: www. spaces within the Manor. able to discover more about Tresham’s

nationaltrust.org.uk/kinder- © life as a Catholic living in Protestant As you are probably aware, the of stone have been analysed by edale-and-the-dark-peak/ National Trust/Geoff Harrop Elizabethan and explore iconic Ornamental Bridge at the British Geological Survey, to features/skydancer-returns what drove him to create Lyveden, Clumber Park, which dates from identify the material the bridge before embarking on a journey the mid-1700s, was subjected to a was originally built with so we can Calke Unlocked: a tour through the unique Elizabethan major act of intentional vandalism discover a suitable match. We are with a twist gardens up to the lodge. in early March. The reaction now in the process of tendering Museum tours not for you? from visitors and members of for architects for the project, and Want to have a little fun with To book your place, please the public since the incident has expect work to start next spring. It history instead? Introducing visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ been absolutely overwhelming. will take around two years for the Calke Unlocked – a high-energy, lyveden/features/book-a-behind- These feelings were echoed at the works to be fully completed. interactive adventure at Calke the-scenes-look-at-lyveden- Ornamental Bridge itself, where Clumber Park would like to Abbey in Derbyshire. Play games, reconnected and for the latest hundreds of notes of support were thank our visitors and the public take selfies, and see Calke in a updates check out @NTLyveden tied to the temporary fencing, for their outpouring of love and whole new light. Suitable for over or follow ‘Lyveden, National sharing love for the bridge and support in light of the incident, and 14s, and don’t forget to bring a Trust’ on Facebook. treasured personal memories. for your continued support over the smartphone or tablet to capture We are excited to share that the coming months while restoration some of the fun. clean-up and restoration of the work takes place on site. Ornamental Bridge is underway, Find out more at www. but there is a long way to go to You can help care for Clumber nationaltrust.org.uk/calke- Volunteering restore the bridge to its former Park with every continued visit, unlocked-a-tour-with-a-twist glory as part of the Clumber Park but if you would like to help Donation to save Belton’s Revitalised Project. towards Clumber Park’s wider boathouse So far, a team of specialist divers conservation work you can by Volunteers take the from Nottinghamshire Police have donating at www.nationaltrust. Our summer newsletter showcased salvaged sections of masonry from org.uk/appeal/support-clumber- an appeal to save the boathouse the lake under the bridge. Samples park. Thank you. at Belton House in Lincolnshire, initiative at Mill an historically important feature of Belton’s landscape. Since that A new audio-visual installation and provide a video tour for those

edition, a generous donation of at on the Hardwick unable to access all parts of the mill. © £2,000 has been given to help Estate in Derbyshire has opened The volunteers have produced National Trust/Sandra Trigg restore the riverside structure to thanks to the work of volunteers. a series of entertaining and Your membership its former splendour. Thank you Stainsby offers a fascinating informative audio-visual for your support. insight into a working Victorian presentations which they have matters flour mill. ‘The problem until now’ written, filmed and edited. To make a donation, please visit explained volunteer Bob Chettle, Currently, six short videos may be www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ Did you know, the ‘is that those with limited mobility selected by visitors allowing them appeal/saving-beltons-boathouse haven’t been able to access the to see many aspects of the milling places you love receive ‘Central Bark’ opens at milling floor, so they’ve missed out process and hear accounts from £2.50 each time you Clumber Park on an important aspect of the mill people associated with the mill’s experience’. past and present history. visit? For membership Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire Just over a year ago, a team of now has a new dog-friendly café queries please call eight volunteers formed the Stable To find out more and for opening ‘Central Bark’ – named by our Action Group (STAG) with the plan times go to www.nationaltrust.org. 0344 800 1895 Facebook followers – offering to use the adjacent stable block uk/hardwick-estate-stainsby-mill refreshments, sweet treats, light to enhance the visitor experience bites and dog bowls for your canine friends. We’d love to know what you think of Central Bark: email clumberparkrevitalised@ If you require this information in alternative formats, including the Talking Newsletter, nationaltrust.org.uk please telephone 0121 224 7460 or email: [email protected]

National Trust Midlands Region, Hardwick Consultancy Office, The Croft, , Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S44 5QJ Printed on 60% recycled paper. Printed by Wyndeham Group. Director for the Midlands: Andy Beer. Editor: Andrea Walker. © National Trust 2018. Registered Charity No. 205846 Please recycle after use. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/midlands 4 Autumn and winter 2018