1 Lancaster Place, Strand, London, WC2E 7ED NEWSLETTER A Place of Sanctuary Building Conservation SavoyStrand New garden for Chichele Students restore historic New landmark building College in Higham Ferrers Duchy crest takes shape Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Welcome A Vision for Dunsop Bridge >Nathan Thompson, CEO The last 12 months have presented some extraordinary challenges for us all. The outbreak of COVID-19 in the UK in March has meant that the past six months have required everyone to think differently, work creatively and act responsibly to >Dunsop Bridge, Whitewell keep themselves and others safe. This has undoubtedly been a time of national The picturesque village of Dunsop Bridge lies crisis and one which sadly has had tragic at the heart of the Duchy’s Whitewell Estate consequences for large numbers of in the Trough of Bowland in Lancashire. Over people as well as presenting economic the past year, the Duchy team has been challenges for all. exploring options for the redevelopment of John F Kennedy famously pointed the former garage site in the centre of the out the word for ‘crisis’ in Chinese is village. A number of traditional buildings at made up of two characters side by the nearby farm have also been identified side – one which denotes ‘risk’ and the as requiring significant repairs to bring them other representing ‘opportunity’. This back into use. has been borne out by many companies, Taken together, these two sites present particularly those in the hospitality sector an opportunity to take a more strategic who found themselves to be the hardest approach and create a new and sustainable hit at the start of this global pandemic. ‘hub’ for the village. This would serve Their ability to adapt and sustain the local community, support the local their businesses during a national and economy and help to make the village more ensure that any plans put forward reflect indeed international lockdown has been sustainable for future generations. the input, feedback and ideas of the local inspirational. As we have been unable to gather the community. For our part, the Duchy team community together to discuss the concept Questionnaire responses are being has been working hard to support our during the COVID-19 outbreak, the team has analysed and will inform the design process. most vulnerable tenants and the wider circulated a questionnaire to all households Once restrictions are lifted a public open to canvass local views. The project is at a meeting will be held in the village to discuss ...cont. on Page 2 very early stage, but the Duchy is keen to the proposals. Preserving the past, investing for the future Summer 2020 ...cont. from Page 1 communities across the estates. We A Place of Sanctuary Extending Our responded quickly to introduce safe working practices and have managed to Whitewell keep the London and Lancaster offices open for essential work throughout. We have worked collaboratively with >Chichele College, Estate partners, community groups and tenants Higham Ferrers across our estates to mitigate the risk of infection and my thanks to the team for A medieval garden brought back to life by volunteers has provided the people of Higham their dedication and support. Ferrers in Northamptonshire with a place of sanctuary and quiet contemplation during Despite the operational constraints the Covid-19 pandemic. presented by a global pandemic, we have Now the walled garden of Chichele College is to be complemented by the addition achieved many of the targets we set of a new Duchy Barn Garden. The garden will provide opportunities for members of ourselves at the end of last year. local charity, the Higham Ferrers Gateway Club, to gain practical experience of planting, >Whitewell Estate, Lancashire We continue to restore and upgrade >Restored courtyard at Lancaster Castle pruning and growing, creating raised beds of vegetables and a herb garden as well as a our rural residential properties and wildlife area rich in biodiversity. At the beginning of the year, the Duchy while the completion of our major Chichele College is a rare surviving example of a chantry college, a type of institution purchased 332 acres of land in the redevelopment project on the Strand has common in England in the 14th and 15th centuries. It was founded by Henry Chichele, Forest of Bowland. Higher Lickhurst Farm been delayed, the finished product will Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1422 as a college for secular canons. marches with the Duchy’s Whitewell be worth the wait. The refurbishment of Today the Ancient Scheduled Monument is under the guardianship of English estate and the steading includes a range the lower courtyard at Lancaster Castle Heritage. www.english-heritage.org.uk of modern agricultural buildings as well has also been completed, allowing access as an agricultural dwelling in need of to the visiting public for the first time refurbishment. In addition to the farm’s in generations. We remain committed 226 acres of pastureland the acquisition to improving the environmental Protecting Biodiversity also includes ownership of two-thirds sustainability of the business and have >New Castle café >Teaching and conference suite of the adjoining Stanley Common which made progress both in improving soil undertake an audit in the next 12 months covers a further 96 acres. health and the delivery of our woodland to categorise the nature and scope of the The Whitewell Estate now extends management strategy. habitats on our foreshore. to 6,369 acres within the Area of My thanks to everyone for their Lancaster Castle Revealed The study will highlight any risks to the Outstanding Natural Beauty of the Forest continued cooperation and support long-term sustainability of these habitats and The refurbishment of the lower courtyard at Lancaster Castle was completed in of Bowland. It is part of the Duchy’s during a period of unprecedented identify opportunities for the conservation November, revealing historic buildings which had remained hidden for more than a Lancashire Survey which also includes challenges. I hope that you and all of priority species. It will also involve the generation. Estates at Myerscough, Salwick and members of the wider Duchy family mapping of environmental designations and A new public piazza now provides step-free access to the famous Well Tower Wyreside. continue to remain safe and well >Dunraven Bay, Ogmore land uses. in which the Lancashire Witches were held before trial in 1612 as well as the King’s throughout the year ahead. An action plan will then be developed Evidence Tower and Male Felons Tower. to ensure the long-term protection of this The refurbishment has also uncovered an arched cloister walk and restored the Working in partnership with the Game and Nathan Thompson invaluable natural resource. Woodland original sightlines between the Castle and the city’s Priory Church, a Grade I listed Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), we will CEO, Duchy of Lancaster building founded as a Benedictine Priory in 1094. A new purpose-built café, gallery space and fully equipped teaching and conference Management suite have been created, bringing more of the Castle’s original buildings back into public use. The café is operated by local coffee roasters and baristas Atkinsons and the teaching Environmental Sustainability suite has been let to Lancaster University. The natural environment has been a major area of focus for the Duchy this year. We are Happy 30th Traditional crafts are also represented at the Castle with resident experts Alan committed to encouraging increased take-up of countryside stewardship schemes among Ward and Sara Dennis conducting workshops in stone-carving, calligraphy, life drawing, our tenant farmers over the next ten years, improving the health of our soil, increasing embroidery and needlework. Later this year the Castle hopes to play host to a week biodiversity and ensuring sustainable woodland management across the estates. Birthday to of classes for the Royal College of Needlework, subject to compliance with COVID-19 Several of our farming tenants have started to introduce environmentally friendly restrictions. practices into their day-to-day operations. For some this has included direct drilling; a system of seed placement where the soil is left undisturbed with crop residue remaining >Protecting our woodland on the surface from harvest until sowing. HMS Lancaster This year marked a milestone birthday for Following an extensive refit the flight Over two-thirds of our arable farmers have expressed an interest in introducing this We have created bespoke management the Queen’s Frigate as she entered her third deck has now been re-commissioned and the methodology and we have offered a capital grant which will help them to invest in the plans to further develop the sustainability decade since being launched by Her Majesty primary weapons and sensors fully tested necessary equipment. of the woodland on the Crewe, Queen Elizabeth II on 24 May 1990. and proven to be operational. The focus will We are continuing to encourage the Whitewell, Wyreside and Pickering To mark the occasion, the ship’s now turn to training throughout July and use of flower and seed rich mixes in field Estates for the next 20 years. Each area company gathered on the flight deck to August before the ship reports to Plymouth margins and borders in order to protect of woodland will be carefully monitored tuck into the enormous cake baked by the for Basic Operational Sea Training in the and preserve the biodiversity across our in line with the Countryside Stewardship duty chefs. Since entering front-line service autumn. estates and have set ourselves a target of Woodland Improvement Scheme to in May 1992, HMS Lancaster has remained Later in the year, HMS Lancaster looks planting 500 acres of new woodland over ensure that we continue to improve at the core of the Royal Navy’s frigate fleet forward to test-firing her new Sea Ceptor the next five years.