News and events for autumn and winter 2018 Herefordshire | Shropshire | Staffordshire Warwickshire | West Midlands | Worcestershire Near you Changing colours Serra de Millar/Arnhel Images/John Trust © National 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 West Midlands. ttingham Park in Shropshire stop off at Croome and from the bird are a blaze of colour, including the is the perfect place to get hide you can see blue tits, nuthatches 1,000-year-old quarry oak and The active in the outdoors; and great tits feeding, you may Weir Garden in Herefordshire harvests Agreat for your health and even see green and greater spotted pumpkins, squash and seasonal veg well-being. The orienteering course woodpeckers. At Clent, savour the as the garden prepares for winter. will help to sharpen navigation sweeping views and see the best of If you’re retired or taking time skills and is suitable for all age the autumn colour on the Autumn off work, why not visit our places groups. There are running paths Colours Ramble (10 & 28 Oct). While during the week in the autumn? Take for a gentle jog or a vigorous run at Hanbury Hall, rich autumn colours advantage of a quieter time perhaps Halloween happenings and they’re great for taking in the fill the trees, in particular the horse by reading a book in the gardens or autumn colours. Dudmaston, also in chestnut trees near the Stableyard – try your hand at visiteering – lots There’s frighteningly good fun to and at the Brockhampton Estate also Shropshire has Harvest Week (8–14 great for conkers too. of places need help to collect fallen be had during October half-term in Herefordshire you can make your Oct), you can help pick and press the In Warwickshire, head to leaves. with pumpkins, ghosts, ghouls and own broomstick (30 Oct) in time bounty of apples from the orchard, Packwood House to see the late Whether you’re visiting or creepy crawlies. for the following night. During half- sample the juice and take a bottle colour in the herbaceous borders volunteering, your support helps There will be fiendish fun and term Wightwick Manor and Gardens home. Close by, at Kinver Edge and including the vivid purple and violets us care for special places in the frights at Coughton Court in in the West Midlands has spooky The Rock Houses in Staffordshire, of the asters and the sound of Midlands. Thank you. Warwickshire with their outdoor trail story-telling and crafts and dare the lesser horseshoe bats begin bellowing deer fills the parkland at (25 Oct – 4 Nov on open days), while you brave the spooky tunnel in the returning to the Rock Houses to Charlecote Park as the fallow deer Follow us... at Attingham Park in Shropshire, garden at Biddulph Grange Garden in hibernate and if you’re lucky you may rutting season begins. or your local National Trust place on discover a new take on Halloween, Staffordshire (27 Oct – 4 Nov)? spot one flying in the sky above. The veteran trees at Croft Castle social media. Share your days out with their Woollen Woods crafts (27 Take a look at the What’s On pages In Worcestershire, migrating birds and Parkland in Herefordshire with us and get the latest updates Oct – 4 Nov). At Croft Castle and for more Halloween fun near you. on summer events and activities Parkland in Herefordshire dress to scare for the Halloween Spooktacular #NTMidlands (27 & 28 Oct) with ghost stories, spooky trails and broomstick racing 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 ©National Trust Images/Attingham Trust ©National © Trust National Attingham Estate Attingham Welcome to the autumn Need photo credit edition of Near You. flourishes thanks to It is not an exaggeration to say that countryside faces the biggest change in a generation prompted by the Agriculture nature-friendly farming Farming family in focus and Environment Bills and you may have noticed that Attingham Estate tenant we are actively engaged in Conservation-friendly farming on the Attingham Estate in Shropshire has resulted farmers Richard, Julie and Simon conversations to try and get Adney have introduced many the best possible outcome. I in it being designated a site of national importance for endangered insects. conservation friendly methods generally find that actions speak to their farming practices such as louder than words, so you will arming in a way which benefits Manager, said: ‘Earlier this year the increase in the creation of flower- reverting areas of land, previously see in this issue that we are nature has seen a boost in BBC reported on how saproxylics are rich meadow, on land formerly used to grow arable crops, to doing our best in the Midlands Fwildlife and is improving among the “most threatened insect cropped with cereals and potatoes, grass. to work with farmers and other the land at Attingham Estate in groups in Europe,” so our survey alongside the rivers which run They have reintroduced partners to hold on to the Shropshire. results are astounding.’ through the estate. These areas pedigree Hereford cattle, the landscapes that we love, as well By working closely with our Nature-friendly farming is are providing habitat for birds, traditional breed grazed by the as find future uses of land that tenant farmers, the neighbouring increasing on the Attingham Estate, pollinators and invertebrates as well fifth Lord Berwick of Attingham, allow people to make a living. farmland is thriving with life; which covers nearly 1,600 hectares as protecting the watercourse and who was a pioneer of this breed We already have some great and together with the parkland, (4,000 acres) of parkland and acting as flood plain. with paintings of his prize-winning examples that demonstrate how the estate is now recognised as several farms. Our Food and Farming Consultant pedigree herd on display at you can produce food in a much nationally important for scarce and One tenant farmer, Alastair Richard Wheeldon said: ‘Attingham Attingham Hall. more nature friendly way, as endangered insects. Home-Roberts, has recently started is a prime example of nature friendly Reverting areas of land back highlighted at Attingham Park. Tiny but mighty beetles known growing his arable crops in a more farming working on a landscape to grazed pasture has seen a However, sometimes as saproxylics, or deadwood sustainable way by introducing a scale. It’s great to see a group of significant increase in wildflowers, acquiring really special pieces invertebrates, are flourishing due to no-till drilling system. Instead of farm tenants working so well with including orchids. Richard said: of land is the only way to farmers helping us to protect veteran cultivating the land, the new crop each other, alongside our Ranger ‘We are very passionate about ensure that beautiful places trees and retaining, where safe, fallen is directly drilled into the previous team and Estate Manager, to ensuring that we manage the can survive and we believe deadwood. 160 species of these crop residue. This reduces soil loss, create and enhance these fantastic land in a way that is productive, that this is the case for our last insects have been recorded, busily as there is less exposure to heavy landscape features. not only in-terms of agricultural remaining hay meadows in the helping to decompose old wood, rain or wind, and decreases carbon ‘It’s wonderful to see agriculture output, but also for the benefit of White Peak, which we have recycle nutrients and providing an release by not exposing the soil to and nature working together. nature.’ been able to do thanks to some important food source for birds and the air. Alastair is also monitoring Attingham still continues to produce The husband, wife and son generous legacies. We will be mammals. earthworm numbers to determine an milk, meat, honey, cereals, pulses, team manage 89 hectares (220 think a lot about remembrance Bob Thurston, Attingham’s improvement in the soil. vegetables and timber whilst also acres) of land at Attingham as well this autumn and I hope that Countryside, Park and Gardens There has also been a significant providing so much for nature.’ as farming a mixture of tenanted those people who left legacies and owned farms nearby. specifically to acquire land in the Peak District will feel that we have done their wishes justice. When I visited on a June ‘The nature of the job has meant that as an day, surrounded by flowers and Championing female creativity accidental social commentator I’ve had a wonderful the song of a curlew, I could opportunity to represent women – and other honestly think of no better way A famed artist moved into Wightwick Manor in the to Wightwick’s women; the Suffragists who held ‘minorities’ – in strong and positive lights and, to be remembered. West Midlands to create her own personal response meetings at the property during the struggle where appropriate, with humour... and almost all of to the suffrage movement. for female suffrage and the Mander family, who it created in a room of my own.’ Kate Charlesworth, who for over 40 years supported the cause. has drawn for feminist, LGBT and alternative She said: ‘The Manders were an extraordinary A Room of One’s Own runs until the end of this year.