The Mulgrave Estate is delighted to have helped Lythe CEVC Primary School create their very own ‘Mud Kitchen’ The outdoor area has had a full makeover with the help of donations from Mulgrave Estate, Teesside Karting and Wilf Nobles and fully reflects all the learning opportunities offered inside. The Early Years staff spent 2 very hot days over the Summer repainting the fencing! The children have worked together to create and plant the new sensory garden full of herbs as well as a fairy garden giving way to some wonderful storytelling.

The Mulgrave Estate have made a start on its’ seasonal tree planting programme recently. A number of areas across the Estate are being planted with native tree species to link existing woodlands together to provide wildlife corridors and strengthen landscape quality and character. A total of 3,500 trees will be planted on six parcels of land and will consist of saplings such as English Oak, Alder, Field Maple, Holly, Yew, Scots Pine, Hazel and Beech.

You may have noticed some peculiar crops growing on our farm this winter. As part of our sustainable farming practices, each winter we crop a rotational area of cover crops as part of our policy to improve soil quality and health. The mix being grown this year contains oil radish, oats, vetch and phacelia. The vetch helps capture nitrogen and supports soil life, the radishes put down long tap roots which help with soil compaction and the oats and phacelia catch nitrogen, preserving it until the mix is re-incorporated into the soil. The spring crop to follow the mix will ultimately benefit, as well as an improved organic matter and soil quality.

Ugthorpe Moor is now under management again following a grazing regime developed and agreed with Natural England via a Countryside Stewardship agreement. The site has recently been fenced allowing livestock to graze the moor at levels that will benefit the moorland ecosystem. By grazing the moor the encroaching rank grass and scrub will be kept in check allowing the heather moorland to regain ground and flourish. The cattle on the moor will be kept there over the winter before returning home to the farm. Pedestrian access across the moor is open to all who wish to walk across it via the gates installed, but we do ask people to shut the gates behind them and keep any dogs on leads around the livestock. Horse riders are also requested to keep to the bridleways on the moor. Again, please close the gates after use.

Today, we have taken delivery of two new Exmoor ponies to assist with our conservation grazing on Sandsend Rigg. We are now up to maximum numbers for grazing this area within the woodland. Thankfully, both pairs of ponies took to each other straightaway with very little introduction. We will monitor progress with the grazing over the coming months. The ponies are on loan from the Yorkshire Exmoor Pony Trust.

Today, millions of people in the UK have put on a Christmas jumper to raise money for a great cause. A very festive Mulgrave Estate team are delighted to have taken part in 2020 Safe the Children Christmas Jumper Day. Thank you to everyone who has donated.

The Estate are pleased to report that our growing Home Farm has been approved again this year under the Red Tractor Assurance scheme. The scheme is the UK’s largest food standards scheme, covering all the areas you care about – animal welfare, food safety, trace-ability and environmental protection. Working with experts in their fields, the scheme ensures that families across Britain have access to safe, quality food that has been grown and reared in the UK to rigorous farming standards. Independent assessors perform checks at every step of the food journey from farm to packet, so that people can be sure that it is traceable, safe and farmed with care. The Red Tractor is only found on food and drinks that are sourced from UK farms and have been checked from farm to basket. By looking for the Red Tractor, you are choosing food you can trust, as well as helping provide support and security for British farmers and food producers.

A traditionally built unit with good access and parking, less than seven miles from Whitby. Amounting to approximately 2000 sq.ft. Consists of four compartments plus a garage and wc. Could be used as office, storage and/or workshop.

Staff and contractors have been hard at work restoring traditional drystone walls and hedgerows around Mulgrave Estate this winter. Plenty of hedge and hedge tree planting has been completed around High Leas Farm in the recent weeks dividing fields and creating wildlife refuge and corridors.

The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) have launched their Big Farmland Bird Count event for 2020. The event is nationwide and encourages anyone from beginners to experts to take part in a 30 minute farmland bird survey.. A record sheet and identification guide is available online with a simple tick list to fill in and email or post back to GWCT. Surveys can take place anytime on farmland between the 7 and 16 February 2020