News from the estate this August
Our teams across the Estate are working hard on our land, to make sure it’s the best it can be. With lots of projects in the works we are pushing ahead with our long-term aim to become the UK’s first estate to demonstrate carbon-positive land management. We want to share with you a few of the exciting stories and news from the past month.
Life on the Estate
Our Head Forester Nick was tasked with gently escorting a colony of bees from a stone plinth outside the Palace to a safe hive elsewhere on the Estate. He collected the queen by hand, and the rest of the colony followed to their new hive, not quite so close to visitors to the Palace!
We’ve recruited a new team member, of the adorable variety. Nell the border collie puppy is joining our working sheepdogs who will work alongside our Farm Manager, Charles. Nell’s dad, Ben, has proved to be an excellent sheepdog so we have high hopes she’s going to follow his lead, she’s definitely got the right genes for it!
Last week we welcomed Witney and West Oxfordshire MP Robert Courts, who visited the site of our new 150-hectare woodland and our natural beehives. He was impressed to learn about the sheer scale of our commitment to the environment and some of the initiatives we have been working on.
Our Homes
Our affordable housing provision, in partnership with West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC), has been recognised by the Estate Gazette Awards. We’ve been nominated as finalists in The Public/Private Partnership Award category. To be recognised for the work we are doing towards our goal of building 300 truly affordable homes by 2027 in the local area is fantastic, as we hope to share our model with other long term landowners.
Our Partner Pye Homes
We’re delighted to announce our partners, Pye Homes, have launched their new community at Church Farm, Radley. Their designs are truly embracing innovative technology for a greener way of life. Just some of the feature include solar panels, air source heat pumps and we’re making homes electric vehicle charging ready too. Church Farm will provide new 2,3 and 4 bedroom homes, community areas and natural open spaces. If you’re looking for your next step there’s homes as unique as you are, ready to reserve now at Church Farm.
In your Garden
As the summers’ plentiful food supply for much garden wildlife starts to wind down, you can do your bit to help. Leaving plants to deadhead and roses to develop hips creates an invaluable food source for hungry birds and small mammals. You may think a dish of mud is an odd request but house martins look for material to repair their nests when the weather turns dry.
With 56 varieties across the UK to spot, Butterflies are a fascinating species to keep at eye out for. Wildflower meadows and pastures are the best places to spot them down to the wealth of shelter and food sources but if you wanted some close to home there’s a few top tips to attract them to your very own garden.
In the Kitchen
If your slow cooker has become the ultimate easy dinner prep why not turn your hand to pudding. Rich and comforting sticky toffee pudding which cooks while you’re getting on with your day sound like an ideal plan to us. Serve up with vanilla ice cream or a creamy custard for the ultimate indulgent dessert.
Bottle up the taste of autumn with a homemade damson gin, perfect for cosy nights in or gifting to loved ones. Damsons are nearly ready for harvesting, with their rich sharp flavour makes them excellent for jams, puddings (and gin) alike. Taking a couple of months to mature, this will be worth the wait.
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