Big Butterfly Count – help take nature’s pulse
Here at Escot Estate we are proud of our work in land and estate management, supporting a biodiverse environment where native plants and wildlife can thrive. Butterflies are a crucial part of the ecosystem. They are important pollinators as well as contributing to the food chain. Sadly, their numbers have been decreasing since the 1970s. […]
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 […]
Himalayan Balsam on the River Tale 2022
Every year,Escot welcomes teams of volunteers to the Estate to help remove the invasive Himalayan Balsam. The report of this year’s activity was put together by Mish Kennaway. June 24: 3 volunteers covered from Tuck Mill to Cadhay Bridge. Disappointingly the stretch through Escot Park had proliferated, although less than 10 plants overall were in […]
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 […]
The Gathering Place – ideal for outdoor get togethers
While we wait for further guidelines on many aspects of life, including weddings and corporate events, one feature at Escot presents an opportunity for outdoor get togethers. The ‘Gathering Point’ is a semicircle of benches with 12 hand carved backrests representing different aspects of the food chain. This striking and beautiful feature was created on […]
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 […]
