Southern Marsh Orchids
Each spring, the grounds at Escot Estate burst into life with one of Britain’s most beautiful native wildflowers – the Southern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa). Known for its striking pink-purple flower spikes and ability to thrive in damp grassland, the species is an important indicator of healthy habitats and careful land management. It typically flowers […]
Wild about No Mow May at Escot!
With spring, the combination of rain, sun and warmth sees gardens, parks and green spaces burst back into life. But while many people reach for the lawnmower at the first sign of growth, the increasingly popular movement of “No Mow May” encourages us to do the opposite. Rather, we let nature take the lead for […]
Enchanting Escot Bluebells
We are very lucky to have a wonderful display of bluebells each year at Escot, enjoyed by walkers and other visitors to the Estate. Black Aller Woods is always filled with the colour and fragrance of this pretty wildflower, and this year there seem to be more than ever! The scent of bluebells is sweet […]
Blooming spring beauties at Escot
As the days grow longer, Escot Estate undergoes a breathtaking transformation. From January to April, nature puts on a dazzling display with an array of vibrant spring flowers, signalling the arrival of a new season. Let’s take a journey through the Estate and our gardens and explore some of the iconic blooms that grace our […]
Escot Ecology – Himalayan Balsam in the Tale Valley
The Tale Valley Trust organises three Himalayan Balsam removal dates in the year, where volunteers join in to take out this invasive plant. This is an abridged version of Mish Kennaway’s report for 2021. If you’d like to volunteer, please make a note of next year’s dates at the bottom of the article and get […]
Beavers at Escot
We recently posted a video on social media of a new wild beaver dam we’d come across on the Estate. There was a huge amount of interest! So we thought it would be helpful to explain more about beavers, their history and their reintroduction into Britain. There have been beavers on Escot Estate since 2007. […]
Bees at Escot Estate
Escot Estate is delighted to host a number of beehives in different locations. The beekeeper tells us Escot is his most productive site due to the diversity of year round nectar. We also have wild bee colonies which have made their homes within hollow trees. Rural estates are an important bank of old parkland trees […]
Hobbies & Swallows
Spring at Escot is the time when the hobbies arrive! These beautiful birds of prey are about the size of a kestrel, and there are around 2,800 breeding pairs in the UK over the summer. They area Schedule 1 protected specise, migrating here from Africa to breed. Their favourite prey, which they catch on the […]
Our commitment to the Estate – forestry
Woodland has multiple assets – for the planet – acting as a carbon sink and diverse habitat for a plethora of biodiversity. Landscape, amenity, sporting and commercial interests follow. In England woodlands are either owned and managed by the state (Forestry Commission) or the private sector including individual landowners, charities and business investors. Timber crops […]
