Mulgrave Estate

Work is due to commence this week converting a complex of farm buildings in Lythe to a children’s day nursery with additional services such as a holiday club, toy shop and community space. Planning permission was obtained with a subsequent tender exercise during last year and Twenty-Five(York) Ltd have been appointed as the Principal Contractor. The buildings are owned by Mulgrave Estate who are part-funding the project.

The Mulgrave Estate have recently added a number of native trees to the riverbanks at Beckside Farm. The trees, a mixture of Alder, Willow and Oak will add stability to the riverbank once the roots take hold as well as eventually providing extra habitat for riparian wildlife. Planting the trees is part of stage one on the scheme with a follow up over the next month or so with livestock fencing to prevent cattle entering the watercourse and causing siltation to the gravel beds lower downstream. Siltation causes the spawning grounds for several species of fish to become choked and reduces the chances of successful breeding within the watercourse. Mulgrave Estate have worked in conjunction with the River Esk programme at the North York Moors National Park Authority via it’s WEG scheme (Water Environment Grant).

A number of enhancement projects that the Mulgrave Estate have undertaken have received attention from a film crew recently. The restoration of the traditional hedges at Kettleness were filmed with Runswick Bay providing the scenic backdrop. Our contractors are currently busy planting over 800m of new native hedgerow by the Cleveland Way up there and the whole story of landscape, history, benefit to wildlife and keeping alive traditional skills was told by staff, tenant farmer and contractor.

Following recent changes to Government lockdown rules in England, we are writing to advise that we shall continue to undertake statutory compliance inspections, emergency repairs and routine maintenance work when they can be done within the scope of the guidance.

You should be aware that all Estate staff and contractors have been instructed that any works must be done in a Covid-19 secure fashion, strictly within the stipulations of Government guidance, and in accordance with a suitable Covid-19 risk assessment.

No works will be carried out in properties that contain an individual who is showing symptoms of Covid-19 or who has a confirmed case of Covid-19.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.