News and events for spring 2019 Derbyshire | Leicestershire | Lincolnshire Northamptonshire | Nottinghamshire | Rutland Near you © National Trust/David© Goacher Make a fresh start

Follow us... or your local National Trust place on © National Trust/Simon© Atherton he New Year is a time for making social media. Share your days out resolutions and fresh starts. Perhaps with us and get the latest updates on Celebrate you’d like to get active, spend time spring flowers, Easter and much more Twith friends and family, learn a new skill or give something to others – all great #NTMidlands for boosting your wellbeing. the first Wrap up warm and walk the trail for all seasons at Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire, © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey downloadable from the website. Belton Volunteering is a great way to make new signs of House in Lincolnshire has a weekly Park Run friends while working in amazing places – on a Saturday morning (starts 9am) for the there are so many opportunities. Canons energetic and for those who like things a bit Ashby in Northamptonshire is opening on spring more steady, there are lots of walks around a Thursday for the first time this year and the parkland including dog friendly routes too. would love to hear from you if you’d like to After the bleakness of winter, spring is a During half term it’s all about family time. be part of the team. At Mr Straw’s House welcome change of the seasons. Mother Join the team at Longshaw in Derbyshire for in Nottinghamshire you can become a walk Nature springs into life with bulbs pushing their Woodland Day (weather depending on leader, welcome visitors, help with research through the ground, tree leaves in bud, the 10 Feb) to help out on the estate and earn and share the stories of this unique place. sound of birdsong and longer days. your wild woodland activity passport. At Also in Nottinghamshire, The Workhouse will At Hardwick in Derbyshire see how Lady Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire you can build a open Firbeck Infirmary this year and would Spencer’s Wood is transformed as carpets bird box to help nesting birds look after their like volunteers to help visitors make the of intense colour appear under the canopy chicks. And don’t forget, half term is a great most of their experience. Take a look at the of trees, an ideal habitat for bluebells. wood anemones and crocuses. While at Mr time to start your ‘50 things to do before National Trust website to find out more and Lambs are a quintessential part of Straw’s House in Nottinghamshire you can you’re 11¾’ activities that are happening at be part of an incredible team. spring; at Calke Abbey and Kedleston follow the spring trails in the garden and lots of our places. Hall in Derbyshire you can see the lambs see what’s growing. playing in the spring sunshine, and if you’re The highlights for this season are spring lucky you may catch one being born – flowers, lambs and carpets of bluebells, a check the website for dates. sure sign that spring has arrived. You help At Gunby Estate, Hall and Gardens in us protect these signs of spring. Lincolnshire stroll along the Wildflower Thank you. Walk and take in the masses of daffodils,

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 Spring 2019 © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey Adventures await at Calke Explore

alke Explore has long the serenity of the woodland and been synonymous with listen to the buzz of the thriving family adventures: wetlands. nestled in the woodland, ‘There’s more to caring for the

© C

National Trust the outdoor natural play area parkland at Calke than first meets has been a popular attraction the eye,’ explains Bill Cove, Calke’s during recent summers. Now the Countryside Manager. ‘Calke site has been transformed into a Explore provides a great chance year-round outdoor destination, to celebrate all the work we providing a stepping stone into do, from routine woodland and pring is just over the the wider estate for visitors of all wildlife management to important horizon. The turning of ages. conservation projects including Sthe seasons is always an Set to open later this spring, the recent reintroduction of the uplifting time of year for me and the new facilities include a café, grizzled skipper butterfly.’ it’s time for a good spring clean, toilet and changing space. Step Calke Explore will also offer getting outside and savouring outside and there will be outdoor direct access to the Tramway Trail, the natural world. In this issue play areas, nature trails and which was extended in 2017 to you can read about how we are accessible footpaths. open up new vistas and spaces, working to open up some new ‘Whether you want to explore and provide an all-weather circular places to explore: whether that the National Nature Reserve, path suitable for cyclists and is outdoors as at Calke Explore, unearth some fantastic industrial walkers. or whether it is the chance archaeology or discover rich The Tramway Trail is open now, to see the Firbeck Infirmary flora and fauna, Calke Explore with Calke Explore coming soon. adjoining the Workhouse in will provide the place where you Visit the website for updates as Southwell. can start that exploration,’ says the project progresses, so you can We also want to do more Stewart Alcock, General Manager start planning your first cuppa in to ensure that everyone feels at Calke Abbey. the great outdoors, with birdsong welcome in our places and that When you visit, you’ll be as your soundtrack. wherever we can we provide helping to protect the heritage at access to people of all abilities the heart of Calke. Not only will Check out the website for more and backgrounds. The ‘hands you give the house and gardens information and plan your visit on, hands off’ project describes some breathing space, but you’ll for later this year: one way in which we are trying also see nature flourish in striking www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ to do this in our houses. You parts of the parkland. Soak in calke-explore can also read about ‘We are Bess’ where we have invited contemporary women to respond to the story of Bess of Hardwick (below). We are Bess strikes a cord

You may have read or heard about We are Bess, the winning photographer Rachel Adams, hang new and innovative exhibition at Hardwick Hall, alongside original Tudor portraits the Hall’s Long Derbyshire. Following its hugely popular run last Gallery, accompanied by the participants’ responses autumn, it is back this spring at the house built by to Bess’s story. Most of all though spring is a the Elizabeth Talbot, the Countess of Shrewsbury ‘These modern perspectives on an old tale awake time for simple pleasures, which aka Bess of Hardwick. us to both the troubling and the comforting parallels we increasingly understand to The exhibition uses modern-day women to tell between the present and the past,’ explained We be important for our health another side to Bess’s story; household names are Bess Creative Director, Dr Suzannah Lipscomb, and wellbeing. So please do including classicist and broadcaster Professor Dame historian, author and broadcaster, and reader in join me in taking the time to Mary Beard, actress Patricia Greene (Jill in BBC history at the University of Roehampton. notice birdsong and savour the Radio 4’s The Archers), newsreader Cathy Newman, We’d like you to have a greater understanding of orchard blossom, wherever you and teenage campaigner Amika George, sit alongside what a complex and formidable person Bess was, can find them. local women. but to also find a connection with a fascinating All these women considered the similarities human story. between the challenges she faced in the 16th century and their own experiences. This reveals a We are Bess re-opens at Hardwick Hall 16 kind, nurturing, and courageous woman - not quite February – 2 June 2019 (Wed – Sun). Find out the Bess we know from the history books. more about We are Bess and see the exhibition Andy Beer Portraits of these women, taken by award- online at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wearebess. © National Trust© Get out into A day in the life... nature this Easter Ted Talbot, Countryside Manager, Peak District The cry of a curlew is unmistakable. I We are replanting the peat forming Bring the whole family together am lucky to hear it, here in the Peak sphagnum moss in the dark muddy this Easter and treat your District on the rare occasion that pools that slowly puddle behind loved ones to the magic of our I have escaped the office to work the dams, restoring the conditions parent whose children have left Cadbury Easter Egg Hunts! Get with one of my Ranger teams on the for insects like crane flies to thrive home perhaps. Today, I share the ready for a long weekend of upland bogs of the Eastern Moors or again. Curlews love leather jackets – moment and reflect on how nature fun and discovery as you the High Peak. As we look to restart the crane fly’s juicy larvae - which it sometimes speaks directly to us. spot the first signs of spring our moorland restoration work in extracts from the peaty soil with its This iconic bird, such a privilege to and experience nature late summer, after the bird breeding long, down curved bill. find - like a spirit guide through my bursting into life at the season, we often see or hear them. I have known this bird since my life - is confirmation that when we special places the National The curlew is our largest wading childhood, on the North Norfolk do good things for nature, we do Trust looks after. Become bird, instantly recognisable on winter coast where it and I used to thrive. good things for ourselves. a nature detective to estuaries or summer moors by its Here, as we trudge over the moors follow bunny’s clues and brown upperparts, long legs and to another gully, I wonder if any To find out more about the work finish your adventure with a that evocative call. We are blocking of these birds hail from the same of Ted and his team in the Peak delicious, chocolatey treat. eroded peat gullies with small dams salt marshes and tidal creeks that I District, visit: www.nationaltrust. to hold back the water and rewet played in. In folk law the curlew’s cry org.uk/peakdistrict the peat. It’s hard and dirty work. symbolizes separation – the cry of a

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/midlands 2 Spring 2019 Places to sense the joys of spring Everyday life is busy. So it’s essential to take time out and enjoy the simple pleasures that nature can bring. Here’s our selection of ways to taste, touch, hear, smell and see the wonders of spring. To find out more visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/eastmidssenses

Canons Ashby Clumber Park Hardwick Northamptonshire Nottinghamshire Derbyshire 5 1 Get your hands muddy Escape the hectic world 3 Discover an abundance and create a squelchy, with a stroll down Limetree of aromatic wild garlic while © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey/John Millar; National Trust/Kev Dunnington; Susan Guy Photography grainy seed bomb in April (6 - 18 Avenue at Clumber Park and wandering through Lady Apr). Appreciate the touch and enjoy the fragrances of spring. Spencer’s Wood at Hardwick texture of compost between your Smell fresh cut grass as our from April. Then taste the wild fingers then launch it into the air. 2 rangers cut the grass for the first garlic soup or a wild garlic and Every seed bomb helps to make Longshaw, Burbage time since winter and aromatic cheese scone from the Great Canons Ashby a more welcoming and the Eastern Moors spring flowers that carpet the Barn restaurant, made using space for insect life, allowing Derbyshire pleasure ground. ingredients from the estate. other wildlife to thrive. At Longshaw you can hear the symphony of spring in the Stoneywell curlew’s haunting cry, or even Leicestershire 4 in the unmistakable call of the elusive cuckoo. Nestled amongst The garden at Stoneywell has a diverse array of wildlife, the a lovely informal feel and was harmony of Longshaw’s bird an important part of family life. population really has to be heard In spring a wonderful carpet of to be believed. Where better bright bluebells envelopes the to listen and relax than in this pretty cottage and is a sight to countryside haven? behold in late April and into May.

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

We’re opening the doors to a new VISITORS ARE experience at The Workhouse

EARNESTLY REQUESTED The Workhouse, Southwell, Nottinghamshire has been experience. So what’s new? Your visit will be much more closed to visitors over the winter months but it’s been far immersive as you explore The Workhouse building as it from quiet. Extensive building and conservation work is was designed (where men, women and children were NOT TO TOUCH THE underway and the whole site is being re-presented. segregated). There will be trails, tours, exhibitions and This spring, our ambitious five-year project ends when children’s games, that tell stories from a historical and The Workhouse opens its doors to you with a brand new contemporary perspective. EXHIBIT We will be revealing the history and significance of © National Trust© the newly conserved Firbeck Infirmary – an area of the Work in progress at Firbeck site where the public previously had limited access. This Infirmary, The Workhouse. intriguing building discusses history of social care and how it developed across two centuries. This contemplative and Hands On or Hands Off? thought provoking experience will encourage questions about poverty, health and social welfare from then and When visiting National Trust properties are you sometimes unsure now. whether you can sit on a chair or walk on the grass? Do you We couldn’t do this work without your support, and we understand why ‘do not touch’ signs appear in some locations and hope that you will visit us and contribute to the building not in others? Is it all really rather confusing? and its conservation, but also share your stories with us. In our efforts to create new experiences and more informal Join us for our much anticipated opening in spring and tell ways of visiting our properties we haven’t always been clear with us what you think. our visitors about what the boundaries are and we’ve sometimes caused confusion. Hands On or Hands Off? is a Midlands project For all the latest information and updates, please check looking at how we can connect people with our conservation work The Workhouse webpage at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ in a consistent, clear and creative way. the-workhouse-southwell and follow our social media Throughout spring and summer, a group of five properties channels @NTWorkhouse are testing innovative ways to engage visitors with conservation messaging, using playfulness, creativity and humour. Look out for the following: • Sudbury Hall and the National Trust Museum of Childhood in Derbyshire – creation of a time-lapse film following the story of four chairs, two at the property and two touring public spaces Gravity and graffiti in Derby, to see how they fare when subjected to wear and tear with no conservation constraints. Woolsthorpe’s new guidebook covers it all • The Workhouse in Nottinghamshire – ‘If walls could talk’ project, working with children to create sound recordings about caring © National Trust Images/James Dobson for the walls and wallpaper in their own words. In our trailblazing new guidebook, Isaac Newton at Woolsthorpe Manor, you’ll find a space explorer, a hologram, graffiti and the • Attingham Park, in Shropshire – showcasing damaged objects in unravelling of the mysteries of the universe. Leading historian a quirky ‘Dark Museum’-style manner, demonstrating the effects of science at Cambridge and Newton expert, Dr Patricia of lack of conservation care. Fara, shines a new light on Newton’s story and the worldwide • Greyfriars’ House and Garden, in Worcester – creating an ironic scientific significance of Woolsthorpe. ‘rule book’ for visitors. How better to convey the importance of Newton’s work on science today, than by asking British astronaut Tim Peake to write • Upton House and Gardens in Warwickshire – testing new logos the foreword? Already a supporter of Woolsthorpe, Tim Peake’s for signalling how visitors can interact with their surroundings. mission to space was named after Newton’s great work, Principia. On that same mission, Tim took apple pips from Newton’s tree We would like your help in evaluating which methods are the into space. Those pips are now are young trees. Tim continues to most effective, clear and memorable, so please visit and join in support our work by helping launch the campaign to find homes the trials. Discover more: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ for these ‘Space Saplings’, which is currently ongoing. midlandshoho You can buy the guidebook online at https://shop. nationaltrust.org.uk

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/midlands 3 Spring 2019 City connections News in brief My National Trust Longshaw Estate, nestled in the people from diverse communities For an easy way to organise your A smaller, more elusive version of the familiar skylark, idyllic Peak District, is surrounded to enjoy visiting in future. membership and choose how the woodlark is rarely seen by most of us. It most by ancient woodlands and rolling During their trips the women you hear from us, remember to likely falls into the LBJ (‘little brown job’) category moorland. It’s also only seven miles explored our natural play trail, register and stay up to date on for most birdwatchers, but like all our birds it has from the bustling urban centre of visited our kitchen garden, and My National Trust. beautiful plumage when looked at a little more Sheffield, and the National Trust learned about the trees and closely. has been working with partners to wildlife of the Peak District. We Register for My National Trust at Despite its name, the woodlark is not encourage more people to connect also worked with a local artist on a nationaltrust.org.uk/ a woodland species at all. Its German with nature and enjoy exploring two day photography and collage mynationaltrust and update name translates as ‘Heath Lark’ the outdoors. workshop, where the women your email settings to receive which is where you’ll be most likely This has recently involved were invited to explore what the regular ‘What’s near you?’ to spot one in the UK. This little working with local charity Roshni, countryside means to them. emails, plus an exclusive bird prefers to nest on the Sheffield’s Asian Women’s Resource Ghazala Razzaq, centre monthly member e-newsletter, ground on heathland, usually Centre, in partnership with the coordinator at Roshni, said: ‘On packed with ideas and under grass tussock, a Peak District National Park. Roshni, our visits to Longshaw it has inspiration to help you enjoy habitat which provides which means ‘light’, supports the really struck me how a walk in the every benefit of being a member. lots of insect food for welfare and education of Asian countryside can lead to a sheer rearing its chicks too. women in Sheffield. transformation in spirit taking Peak District Appeal I like to look We invited the women from the place; especially for some of the update out for woodlarks Roshni Centre to visit Longshaw, to women we work with, who have The Peak District Appeal was around March time (this little one starts breeding very enjoy connecting with the beautiful very complex lives. This project launched in the spring of early!) when I venture onto the open heathland areas of Clumber Park in environment of the Peak District, deepens their connection to 2018, and has already helped Nottinghamshire. They are quite easy to spot if you know where to go. to reap the health and wellbeing Longshaw, the wider countryside raise £16,000 to support the Look out for singing males atop a hawthorn or birch tree, from where benefits of being out in nature, and and nature.’ woodlands in the Peak District. the male launches himself s into the air crying out ‘lu-lu-lu-lu’ and then to hopefully encourage them to Rangers and volunteers have descends in a spectacular spiral display. feel like Longshaw is now a familiar The Peak District welcomes been able to start tree thinning In the 1980s, the numbers of woodlarks hit a record low at around welcoming place they can enjoy everyone. If you¹d like to build and replanting in the White Peak 250 pairs in the UK. Thanks to conservation initiatives however, the again and again. In turn, our guests your connections with nature to tackle ash dieback disease, population has recovered to around 1,500 pairs today. At Clumber worked closely with our staff visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ and also extended our native tree Park, we now have around five breeding pairs thanks to the extensive so that we can encourage more shared-futures-at-longshaw planting in the High Peak. Thank heathland restoration work that we’ve been working on over the © you for your support. last twenty years. We’ve been reducing scrub and bracken, heather Page Laura seeding and stock fencing so that we can graze cattle and sheep on the Find out more at: www. heathland, which is a natural way of maintaining the habitat for birds like nationaltrust.org.uk/ woodlarks trying to build their nests on the ground. PeakDistrictAppeal Over time, the National Trust plans to restore more heath on a grand scale at Clumber Park to increase the habitat for woodlarks further, Welcoming visitors for which will benefit other wildlife too and provide more space for people 250 years to explore. So, wrap up warm in February or March, grab your binoculars As part of the 2019 anniversary and head out onto the heath to enjoy the wonderful song and aerial celebrations, new tours at display of the woodlark. In order to not disturb these birds nesting on the Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire ground, please do keep well back and always have your dog on a lead. will give visitors access to more of the collection, the hall and Carl Hawke its stories. These will reflect Wildlife & Countryside Consultant the route and warm welcome received by visitors when Kedleston’ s housekeeper, Mary Garnett, gave her own tours 250 years ago. Volunteering Have tea with a tiger Visit Kedleston Hall in 2019 and join us on a new tour. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ Our project volunteers at Gunby this spring kedleston-hall ©

National Trust/Deborah Webster Get up close to the beloved artwork can make their own tea for the tiger, HumanKind at Calke Abbey Exciting projects are happening from Judith Kerr’s much-loved as well as delighting in Judith Kerr’s This year, to mark the 200th across the region this year and children’s classic picture book, ‘The iconic drawings. anniversary of the death of ‘the volunteering supports many of Tiger Who Came To Tea’. Celebrating Why not come to Gunby to enjoy Isolated Baronet’ Henry Harpur, them from concept to delivery. the book’s 50th anniversary and over the exhibition and buy a copy of we’re looking afresh at Calke’s The National Trust creates five million copies sold, The Tiger the book in the tea-room to read at past. HumanKind is a research- new opportunities for existing Who Came to Tea exhibition will home? led collaboration with the volunteers to be involved in come to Gunby in Lincolnshire as part University of Leicester’s Research projects and also recruits new of as part of a nationwide tour. ‘The Tiger Who Came To Tea’ Centre for Museums and volunteers with particular skills to The exhibition has been originated exhibition will be in the Gunby Galleries, casting new light on the support our work. by ‘Seven Stories, The National basement from 9 March to 28 lives of the people who once lived There are volunteers involved in Jerry Holgate Centre for Children’s Books’. April. You can visit it Saturday to at Calke. projects such as the Peak District’s The magic of The Tiger Who Came Wednesday from 11am to 5pm. People’s Landscapes Art Project to Tea story is brought vividly to For further details, visit Look out for more information and planning visitor experiences at community, but it also gives me life with a giant cuddly tiger and an www.nationaltrust.org.uk/have-tea- coming soon at www. Shugborough. the opportunity to expand my interactive kitchen, so that children with-a-tiger-at-gunby nationaltrust.org.uk/calke Jerry Holgate, Project Board knowledge and grow in a more ©

volunteer for the People’s professional capacity.’ SevenDamien StoriesWootten- Landscapes project says ‘I have Volunteers have also been the been involved since the early driving force behind the Fishpool planning stages and have found Valley Project at Croft Castle. it most interesting, especially Volunteer teams have been leading meeting the different groups the way in every respect; from OPEN NOW involved in the project. As a ecological work to archaeological Your membership card shouldn’t volunteer I enjoy having an input excavations. gather dust in the winter. Many of into the project as it develops.’ our places are open in some way Christine Harding, Experience Find out about volunteering at the moment, whether it’s the Design Volunteer at Shugborough opportunities at garden or some or all of the house. says: ‘It is not only allowing me www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ Winter arrangements may be a to learn more about my local find-an-opportunity little different to the rest of the year, but the doors are open. Look through your new handbook to plan your winter days out. For membership queries please call 0344 800 1895 If you require this information in alternative formats, including the Talking Newsletter, please telephone 0121 224 7460 or email: [email protected]

National Trust Midlands Region, Hardwick Consultancy Office, The Croft, Doe Lea, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S44 5QJ Printed on 60% recycled paper. Printed by Wyndeham Group. Director for the Midlands: Andy Beer. Editor: Andrea Walker. © National Trust 2019. Registered Charity No. 205846 Please recycle after use. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/midlands 4 Spring 2019