On Monday and Tuesday the whole Smithills team were busy turning the Estate into a film set! Over the two days we filmed footage in the woodlands, grassland and on the moor for three exciting projects: a short promotional film about Smithills, a longer information...
A pioneering project which aims to breathe new life into critically threatened woodlands in Sussex has received initial support* for a funding boost from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Led by the Woodland Trust, The ‘Lost Woods of the Low Weald and Downs’ project aims to...
A massive thanks to volunteer photographer, David Rodway, who has forwarded us this wonderful short film of Hackfall in autumn. Situated in a steep sided gorge and cutting through primarily rolling pasture, Hackfall is a semi-natural ancient woodland, near Masham, North Yorkshire. This stunning woodland has Grade...
Many of our sites have seen an increase in people visiting our estate during lockdown, and we know that for many this has been a way to improve their wellbeing during what is a difficult time for us all. At Smithills, a major aim of our...
Climate change is threatening the seasons as we known them. However, we know far less of autumn phenology than we do of spring. What happens, for example, when autumn arrives early and plants like bramble and hazel fruit before hazel dormice are ready to hibernate? With...
Deluge of litter and fly tipping since lockdown is a mounting threat to nature The Trust has reported an unprecedented surge in litter and fly tipping across its woodland sites since the national lockdown began - presenting a rising threat to nature. The Woodland Trusts 1,000 plus...
Thank you to our Hucking Orchard volunteers, Allen Goodwin and Raymond Kenward, for submitting this article for Whittle. The Orchardist constantly frets. If it's not Silverleaf on the Victoria Plums then it's canker in the Worcester Pearmain, and if by luck it's neither of these then...
Hello to all volunteers in Wales/ Sut mae, i’n holl wirfoddolwyr yng Nghymru. I hope you have been able to keep busy during lockdown and enjoy your local trees and woods #TreesCloseToMe. A few trees near me have caught my eye on regular walks from home (see...
The Bunce resurvey of ancient woods across the UK has started this week at Riding Mill Wood near Newcastle. This 3 year project (2020-22) has long been in the making, and despite delays due to the pandemic, the ecologists have begun surveys at English sites...
Take part on Tuesday 30th June and ask your MP for a green recovery. This Tuesday coming (30th June) more than 10,000 people will hold virtual meetings with their Westminster MPs and you can join them. Responding to Covid-19 has rightly been the priority over the last...