A Season of Renewal Across the Estate

12th May 2026

As spring settles across the Estate, May brings with it a remarkable transformation. Meadows begin to sway, woodland bursts into vibrant colours and the skies fill with returning seasonal birds. It is a time when nature comes to life and one of the most rewarding moments of the year to experience the landscape in full flourish.

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In keeping with our ongoing commitment to biodiversity, much of the estate is left intentionally unmown throughout May. By allowing grasses and wildflowers to grow freely, it creates vital habitats for pollinators and other species that depend on them. Visitors will notice areas alive with colour and movement, where nature is encouraged to grow and thrive undisturbed. Select spaces around the estate including the House, Motor Circuit and golf courses continue to be carefully maintained for practical use and presentation. Beyond these areas, the landscape is given the freedom to bloom.

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The arrival of spring wildlife is well underway. Swallows, among the countryside’s most graceful aerial acrobats, have returned to the estate, skimming low across fields. Soon, they will be joined by swifts, remarkable migratory birds that travel an astonishing 3,400 miles each way from sub-Saharan Africa to spend the summer in Britain. Watching them soar and dive overhead is one of the defining sights of the spring season.

Across the estate, wild botanicals are beginning to emerge in abundance. Visitors may spot delicate cowslips and early purple orchids nestled among the grasses, alongside cow parsley, ox-eye daisies, mallow and red clover. The flowering lime trees fill the air with their sweet scent, one of the pleasures of late spring.

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As evenings grow warmer, bats will begin to emerge at dusk to forage for insects on the wing, while dormice slowly awaken from winter hibernation in the estate’s quieter corners. Butterflies are becoming increasingly active too, with brimstones, peacocks, small whites, cabbage whites and grizzled skippers all making appearances across grassland and hedgerow habitats.

For those exploring on foot, the beautiful beech woodlands are particularly spectacular at this time of year. Fresh, bright leaves create vibrant colours overhead, casting shifting dappled light across woodland paths and a peaceful setting for spring walks and wildlife spotting alike.

Visitors are also encouraged to take part in the Bumblebee Conservation Trust’s national bee count initiative. A gentle walk around the estate offers the perfect opportunity to identify and record different bee species while contributing valuable ecological data. We would be delighted to hear about any sightings, wildlife encounters or survey results guests discover during their visit. Capturing and celebrating these moments helps build a richer picture of the estate’s thriving biodiversity throughout the seasons.

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Alongside these seasonal changes, several important sustainability projects are progressing across the estate. Solar panels are due to be installed on the Dairy roof at Home Farm, helping to increase on-site renewable energy generation. This investment will reduce reliance on the grid, improve long-term energy resilience and contribute to lowering the estate’s overall carbon footprint.

In the southern end of the estate, a new biodiversity pond will be created. Designed to increase the number of water bodies across the landscape, the pond will enhance habitat connectivity and provide valuable refuge for amphibians, insects, birds and aquatic species.

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Soil health also remains a key focus. Throughout the spring, soil samples will be collected across the estate to help quantify levels of stored carbon. The findings will support future land management decisions, improve understanding of soil condition and resilience and contribute to wider efforts to adapt to the changing climate.

Together, these initiatives reflect a broader commitment to caring for the landscape in a way that protects its beauty, supports wildlife and ensures the estate can be enjoyed for generations to come.

  • Sustainability

  • Estate