Winter work in the parkland

A walk through Tatton's parkland will reveal several areas covered by Rhododendron bushes, which in recent years have been found to be susceptible to a plant disease called Phytophthora.  Imported from Europe and America, Phytophthora are virulent fungal infections which attack the plant through its roots, often in wet ground, causing the blackening and wilting of leaves, as well as cankers and lesions in the bark of some species. Phytophthora can be transmitted to other plants through ground water, wind and even on people's clothes and footwear.  The Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) class Phytophthora as a notifiable disease. 

It is important that Tatton takes measures to protect itself from this disease and especially the important plant collections in the gardens.  In this respect the Ranger team are being pro-active: we will receive training on how to identify the disease and begin to remove some areas of Rhododendron, particularly those areas closest to the gardens.  This will be labour intensive and we are happy to recruit a team of volunteers to help with this and other tasks on the estate.  Should you be interested in volunteering, please contact the Ranger team on 01625 374414.

Take a walk on a cold frosty morning and look in the rushes and long grass. Amongst the foliage are strings of crystal droplets sparkling in the early morning light.  No matter how cold it is, the spiders living in the estate spin webs to catch their prey all year round. On a frosty morning they hang like festive baubles, glittering.  They show perfectly intricate designs the arachnids produce.  An average spider in warmer months will produce a new web every 24 hours and they are constantly updating and repairing them.  To do this they eat the old web to recycle silk for the new one.

Winter deer feed   ©Peter Spooner

The Red and Fallow deer herds are given supplementary feed daily through the winter.  This consists of carrots, haylage and mineral enriched dairy nuts.  The feeding starts once the cold weather sets in and garzing becomes limited.  Normally we would be feeding by the end of November, but due to the prolonged mild weather this has not been necessary.  The daily deer feed is an excellent opportunity for the ranger team to assess the condition of the herd.  The long line of carrots put out ensures the smaller and less dominant animals are able to feed and enables us to carry out census work accurately.  This winter there is opportunity for the public to witness the feed and observe the deer from the relative comfort of a passenger trailer.  The dates offered are 20th and 21st December (now sold out), 14th and 15th February.  Please book in advance on 01625 374428 as places go very quickly.

There will also be the opportunity to see some of the numerous species of wildfowl that visit Tatton during the winter.  Come along to the Allen Hide between 11am and 1pm on Sunday 15 January - there will be members of the Knutsford Ornithological Society present to give advice and to help you identify the various species with the aid of a telescope.

Darren Morris, Ranger Team

Marketing Musings..

Here in the Marketing office we are well on our way to finalising next year’s events, with a view to confirming some for 2013. Each year we aim to extend the events programme with next year offering some great opportunities such as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June. At the moment we are discussing details of the RHS Flower Show in July and looking at the possibilities for Christmas 2012.

'Meet the Housekeeper & Butler' tours!

The smell of paint around the upstairs offices has diminished in recent days as the decoration of Lord Egerton’s Apartment has just been completed. With new carpets, furnishings and lighting it is a really special venue for any exclusive celebration or family event. The LEA holds up to 40 comfortably and features two rooms plus dedicated kitchen and bathroom facilities, with the best views of the Gardens and Parkland that the Mansion has to offer. Consider us next time you are planning an event and we would be pleased to show you around.

We have had a record number of coach parties visiting Tatton this year and we’re working with some key tour operators to put Tatton in their programmes for next year. Group visitors in particular like each historic attraction to offer something unique or with “added-value” in their itineraries. We have trialled a series of role-playing Butler and Housekeeper tours this season which enabled some of our education assistants to find their inner Olivier or Monroe – they were great fun and especially popular with the Australian and North American visitors.

Katherine McInnes, Marketing

Buon natale!

Visitors to Tatton Park mansion will be greeted with ‘Buon natale!’ this Christmas, as Venice inspires our seasonal theme.

The stunning staterooms of the mansion at Tatton Park in rural Cheshire East will be spectacularly dressed to reflect the extravagance and sophistication of Venice.

Venetian splendour will be brought to the English country home with striking displays inspired by the drama of ‘carnevale.’ Trees dressed with peacock feathers and decorative birds in gilded cages are just some of the spectacular delights of the Christmas decorations (though we won’t give anything else away!).

These dramatic new displays will enhance our usual traditional Christmas decorations. This Christmas, as in previous years, the floristry team will also be undertaking the enormous task of crafting, by hand, the miles of festive garlands and wreathes used to dress the Mansion’s grand staterooms.

Preparing the Christmas Mansion decorations in the cellars

      © Eleanor Gorsuch

The natural foliage for the decorations is taken largely from the parkland and gardens. Throughout November and December the rangers and gardeners work tirelessly to source the very best greenery from specially selected plantations. Western red cedar, variegated holly, ivy, laurel, pine cones and yew are cut, transported in trailers and delivered directly to the cellar doors where the Mansion team work their magic.

This year, however, the focus is very much on the spectacle of Venice.

The Egerton family, the owners of Tatton for 360 years, were keen collectors, bringing many fine treasures from their travels to furnish their Cheshire and London homes. In 1884, Lady Mary Egerton wrote to her daughter Gertrude from Venice: “We are enjoying this delightful place as much as we always do, and finding all sorts of Treasures…The weather here is delicious – fresh and hot: our old gondolier MOMOLO has been engaged till today.”

Amongst the finest paintings in Tatton’s collection are two views of Venice, by the Venetian master, Giovanni Antonio Canale, more commonly known as Canaletto. The pair came into the Tatton collection in the late eighteenth century during the ownership of Samuel Egerton (1711-1780). These stunning paintings, which hang in the Drawing Room at Tatton, inspired this year’s Christmas theme.

In addition to the decorations and displays, visitors will be entertained with a changing live music programme including a harpist, flautist, string quartet, harpsichord, and in addition, musicians from the Royal Northern College of Music. The musical programme is different every day.

Christmas is not only evident in the grand staterooms; the humble servants’ quarters will also be getting into the festive spirit. In the scullery our costumed still room and kitchen maids will be cooking Christmas delicacies. Count on some lively ‘Downton’ style banter with the below-stairs staff.

Visitors can learn how to create beautiful decorations for their own home during free demonstrations in the servants’ quarters. Children will also be able to take part in free Venetian mask-making workshops at the weekends.

The Christmas mansion is open from Wednesday, December 7 to Friday, December 23 from noon to 4pm (last entry 3pm), closed Mondays and Tuesdays between these dates. Find out more and the event and times and prices here.
Eleanor Gorsuch, Marketing

Christmas is Coming!

There is certainly an air of familiar excitement as we approach Christmas time. The staff and animals are all sensing the arrival of somebody very special and keep looking into the sky for signs of his sleigh and Rudolph’s shiny red nose! Yes that’s right, Father Christmas is here at Home Farm on the 10th/11th 17th/18th and even Christmas Eve! That will be a very busy day and night for him as he will have so many boys and girls to see during the day as well as delivering all those presents at night.

Our hard-working Reindeer Prancer and Dancer are very eager to help him that night and they are by far the most excited about his arrival than anybody. This will be the first year in history that the farm have owned their own Reindeer (apart from when Father Christmas has them on loan) and we think it is going to make our Christmas here all the more magical. Let’s not forget our other stars of the show our donkeys Frosty and Seren (welsh for 'star') who always look forward to their irreplaceable part in our live nativity, and of course the relentless fuss lavished on them by you all!

Lisa, Kip the sheepdog, Elly and Frosty the donkey in the snow last year

As well as our Storyteller who weaves tales of festive magic, we will have a Children’s entertainer to create a fun-filled atmosphere as well as traditional merry go rounds. There will be choirs and brass bands to bring that traditional and warm feel to the event who will play their music around the nativity scene which houses our farmyard friends in their stable. We will also be creating an opportunity for a photo opportunity on Santa’s sleigh which has been lovingly crafted by our dedicated National Trust volunteers. Last but certainly not least Father Christmas will be in his winter wonderland of Christmas trees and twinkling lights waiting for you with his sacks full of presents for all those good girls and boys! His merry hardworking elves will show you the way into his magical grotto – make sure you look out for them!

All in all we are hoping we can offer you a festive and fun filled Christmas here at the farm, so please come and join us for a magical and memorable time. All the staff and animals are looking forward to seeing you! All that is left for us to say is WE HOPE YOU HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! From all the staff and animals at Home Farm, EEY-ORE, NEIGH, MOO, OINK, QUACK, CHEEP, BAA!

Lisa Kennedy, Farm Assistant

Lighten up – (Father) Christmas is just around the corner!

At the moment we're planning for a new Christmas event, when Father Christmas arrives at Tatton during a magical twilight lantern parade on Friday, December 9.

We're encouraging children and families to 'light his arrival' to Tatton and welcome the merry marvel for the beginning of his stay at the farm this Christmas!  He'll process along a lantern-lit walk to the stableyard where star guests – the farm’s reindeer, Prancer and Dancer - will be waiting in anticipation.


Father Christmas at the Farm with Frosty the Donkey and elves!


Children will also be able to post a Christmas wish-list and families can enjoy festive tunes from a choir and band and indulge in some Christmas shopping.

The event is also an opportunity to ‘give a little back’ by donating any unwanted toys to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital charity, where they will find a very welcome home.

St Nick will be arriving just in the nick of time – for he starts three weekends at the farm on Saturday, December 10. At the farm, our younger visitors will be able to meet Father Christmas and his elves in his grotto and receive a special Christmas gift.

If your little ones would like to learn how to light Santa’s way - they can take part in a free lantern making workshop in the main stableyard barn room on Sunday, December 4. On the weekends of 10/11 December and 17/18 December children can also take part in free festive hat making sessions in the stableyard barn room. Park entry charge applies for both these events.


• The Lantern Parade takes place on Friday, December 9 from 6pm-8pm. Free entry to Tatton Park and to the event.

• Lantern-making workshops take place on Sunday, December 4 from noon-4pm. Workshop admission free, Park entry charge of £5 per car applies.

• ‘12 days of Christmas’ hat making sessions take place on the weekends of December 10/11 and 17/18 from noon to 4pm. Free event, park entry charge of £5 per car applies.

Father Christmas at the Farm takes place on the weekends of December 10/11, 17/18 and on Saturday, December 24. Times: noon-4pm, last entry 3pm. Prices: Adult £5, Child £4. Prices apply to National Trust members. The usual park entry charge of £5 per car applies. All paying children receive a free gift from Father Christmas.

Eleanor Gorsuch, Marketing

Seasonal turns...

In a season when we should be contemplating a fall of snow, about the only thing that is descending at the moment are leaves from the trees. It would seem that the season of autumn has extended into early winter. Oaks are still showing green leaves and again we will probably end up with new leaves pushing the old leaves off - similar to the effect that adult teeth have on baby teeth!

Autumn by the Japanese Hut

©Sam Youd

Having said all of that, we have had two nights of frost down to minus two which effectively has stopped the growth of the grass and given the message to the border plants that it is at last time for them to go to sleep.

The fruit tress are still bearing good crops of apples despite the lateness of the season with also continuation of crops of figs, particularly the variety Rouge de Bordeaux which has a luscious red centre, deliciously sweet.

Good success has been had with a third batch of pineapple plants which means that we will now be able to complete the planting of the pineapple house in all three bays, with the prospect of maybe some plants from the first batch fruiting next year.

The conservatory is almost at the point of completion except for one or two jobs which need to be adjusted; planting has already started. We look forward to this new and exciting adventure, so if you think garden visiting is only a spring and summer occupation then there’s still time to readjust your thinking. Get out there and enjoy these fine sunny, mild days.

Sam Youd, Gardens Manager

Hallowe'en Horrors at the Old Hall

The Old Hall opened up last week to lovely weather outside and a very dark and horrible interior with ghosts and spooks and spirits, who is real and who is not?



The bogey man & dragon

©Margaret Clark


The good witch on the main door (that was Sandra and myself on alternate days) made sure everyone was going to enjoy themselves! And if they looked too afraid, to put a spell on the spooks in the Hall, that’s a Pirate from Davey Jones' Locker, a Witch and a Ghostly Lady to make them keep still and to get the visitors across to the stairs safely, after that....

The Clown/Jester was ready to scare you out of your wits and the Bogey Man had his pet dragon helping him...then a very scary Monk with metal hands and finally the Undertaker to see you out the back door...all in time to come round to the front door and start all over again.

For those not brave enough to enter, of all ages, there was plenty to keep them occupied outside with fair ground rides and a coconut shy, hot drinks and food. There was a storyteller all throughout the day, every day, and also the same with mask making and face painting...a fantastic job to all those involved (don’t know how you did it!)

Davey Jones in the Great Hall ©Margaret Clark

On the first day, Tuesday, there were two 7 year old girls, who kept telling me they were very best friends - they came through so many times completely on their own that I lost count, ended up dancing with the Ghostly Lady several times and not in the least bothered by it all...and yet there were plenty of adults unwilling to come in and lots of screaming...I’ll remember my ear plugs next year.

The team that created it all led by Mick have some very strange minds, (I’d worry about them if they weren’t good friends and I include myself in that) and worked hard to get it all ready on the first Monday and then taken down the following Monday...where did the time go? A brilliant week, let’s do it again sometime..but not just yet!


Margaret Clark,
Interpreter Guide

Explosive Egertons!

Sir Thomas Egerton was one of the earliest owners of the Tatton Park estate.  The following timely account of his significance in the Gunpowder Plot trials has been provided by local historian, Bernard Dennis.  The article was first published in the Chester Chronicle.

On 6 April 1617, a funeral took place in the bell tower of St Mary’s Church, Dodleston. This was no ordinary burial but that of the most important person in the land and second only to King James I.

This person was Sir Thomas Egerton, Lord High Chancellor, Lord Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley. Such titles can only suggest his importance but he had dedicated his life to his previous monarch Queen Elizabeth I and the roles he undertook had transferred to the new king after his accession to the throne in March 1603.

Sir Thomas, in his role of Lord High Chancellor was the prime advocate in the land and as such presided over all of the major trials, especially those connected with treason.

Sir Thomas Egerton

© Tatton Park/National Trust/ Cheshire East Council

On Tuesday 5 November 1605 the famous occurrence of those who plotted against King James I were caught when they tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament with a substantial quantity of gunpowder. The plotters, led by Guido (Guy) Fawkes were intent on destroying the King and legislature in a single blow. Included in the assembly was Sir Thomas Egerton.

As history shows, the attempt was not successful and those caught and implicated in the plot were all apprehended, jailed and sent for trial.

The trial took place in January 1606 in front of nine commissioners headed by Sir Thomas Egerton in his role as Lord Chancellor.

In previous years, Sir Thomas Egerton had conducted many of the famous trials, especially those involving plots against the Crown and he had a fearsome reputation for extracting confessions before the trials by the use of the Rack.

Guy Fawkes, and others were subjected to this treatment and a record exists of his signature before his torture on the Rack and afterwards. His name is barely recognisable!

Needless to say, all the plotters were found guilty and summarily executed by being hanged, drawn and quartered.

Sir Thomas Egerton carried on in his role as Lord High Chancellor until his death in March 1617.

Having been born close to Dodleston in 1540 as an illegitimate child of Sir Richard Egerton and Alice Sparke, a lowly maidservant from Dodleston Hall, his progression to being the second most powerful man of the times is a remarkable story.

He chose St Mary’s Church Dodleston for his final resting place where he could be close to his first wife, Lady Elizabeth who died in 1588 and his first born son, also Sir Thomas, who died in action in Dublin in 1599.

Before and after signatures of Guido Fawkes

Bernard Dennis

www.bernarddennis.co.uk

Japanese Garden on fire!

Panic not - its glowing with autumnal colours only!   



 

Japanese maple leaves © Eleanor Gorsuch

Not many places are as beautiful as the Japanese Garden in Autumn.  The historic garden, which this year celebrated the centenary of its introduction, is arguably at its most beautiful in October. Now is the perfect time to see its striking and varied collection of Japanese maples turning rich red, russet and gold.  It really is a sight to fall in love with.

The garden has provided Gardens Manager, Sam Youd, with inspiration for the following poem:

Kaede

One hundred years performing before Gentry and Nobility.
Their annual pageant carefully crafted to reflect the seaons.

The Interval,
Tea Ceremony;
anticipation of different scenes.

Shafts of filtered light enhance the costumes.

A year of rehearsal over, the final performance.

Applause and standing ovations from every side.

Colourful explosions of reds and yellows,embalmed in tempura.

A curtain of snow prepares to fall.

Sam Youd, October 2011



We hope you enjoy it!.  Visit our Japanese Garden. 



NB. 'Kaede' is Japanese for maple.  Traditionally, autumnal maple leaves are dipped in tempura batter to make a beautiful table decoration and delicacy.









The pumpkin tree returns!

Last week it was wheelbarrows at the ready for Tatton Park’s garden team - as they brought in the autumn harvest for the half term 'Get Squashed' event. With more than 2.5 acres of walled kitchen gardens, that’s a lot of tasty gourds, marrows and squashes - not forgetting some corking courgettes.

The annual 'Get Squashed' event is now back in the gardens until Sunday, October 30. This event is a great opportunity for the gardeners to dig deep for creative inspiration and make a fantastic display of the autumn harvest. Our visitors have been arriving  to see, smell, touch (but not quite taste - that would ruin the display) some wonderful fare from the ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’.

Look closely for the pumpkins!

Our younger visitors have been taking part in a pumpkin poetry trail, which leads them around the gardens in search of ingredients for a ‘magical spell’finally leading them to the marvellous ‘pumpkin tree’. See left!!

The gardens are looking particularly beautiful now, especially the maples in the historic Japanese garden, which celebrates its centenary this year. Here's a photo of it this lunch time  - burnished in its gorgeous autumn colour. 

If you’re looking for other frightfully fun events this half term, visit the horrendously haunted Old Hall at Tatton Park from until Sunday, October 30. Prepare to be petrified as you wander through the haunted Tudor building - fast gaining a reputation as one of the spookiest film locations in the North West. 

And don't forget the fabulously peculiar Skin and Bones event in the mansion - exploring Tatton's wonderful natural history collection of taxidermy, fossils, shells and ethnographic curios.  This event takes place until Sunday October 30.

Happy half term!

Eleanor Gorsuch, Marketing

At Home in the Library

Since a report on the Library collection at Tatton in 2005, increased knowledge and understanding of the Library collection and its importance at a national and international level, have led us to plan to make this room and collection more accessible to the public.


The newly re-displayed Library ©George Littler, Tatton Park



The Tatton Library is regarded within the National Trust as one of its top library collections and has an important and varied collection, with the earliest book dating from 1513, to books collected in the 20th century by the last Lord Egerton. It also retains its original Gillows library furniture and is important for its architectural features. The Library was completed around 1818/20 as part of the scheme by architects Samuel and Lewis William Wyatt.

One key aspect of the Tatton Library is that the Egertons were keen book collectors, and that each successive generation added their own significant layer of collecting interest to the Library at Tatton. This Library was a resource for the family, a source of entertainment and interest, and of great pride – it is populated by many fine specimens and bindings, it was used and added to and the books themselves are often annotated by their owners. In addition amongst the Egertons were a number of authors, three of whom:

• Wilbraham Egerton (1832 – 1909) wrote on a variety of subjects – The Cheshire Gentry, Co-operation in Agriculture, A Descriptive Catalogue of the collection of Oriental armour and weapons formed by Lord Egerton …, Education of deaf children.

• His second wife, the Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos published a memoir of her travels: Glimpses of four continents: letters written during a tour in Australia, New Zealand and North America in 1893, along with some stories for children which were published.

• Beatrix Tollemache published her Cranford Souvenirs in 1900.

Taking all of this into account the new Library project was launched this month, seeking to make the Library more accessible and interesting to our visitors. One third of the Library at the west end has been carpeted with protective drugget. This area can now be used by visitors. Two sofas from the Tatton collection have been strengthened and re-upholstered for visitor use, and a Gillows bookcase has been made ready to house books which have a Tatton Park connection, and books for children.

We have created an inviting area for visitors to sit and read and look at material from the collection. The production of replica copies of some of our most interesting and rare books are in the process of being made so that visitors can read something which looks like the original. Probably most successful of all has been the purchase of an iPad on which we have put photographs of some of our books so that visitors can see inside them, without putting the originals at risk.

Come and take a look – it’s a great new facility and we’d be happy to show it to you. You can find out more about the Mansion on our website.

Caroline Schofield, Mansion and Collections Manager

It's not all skin and bones...

The ethnography and natural history collections at Tatton Park are very special. Maurice Egerton, the last Baron to live in the mansion, travelled all over the world acquiring fascinating objects to bring home for display.

Butterflies collected by Maurice on his travels ©Tatton Park

Over the last few weeks, the Mansion Conservation Assistants have been working behind the scenes to improve the storage conditions of these collections. We have been rearranging boxes and shelving to group objects systematically and to make sure that they have the space and conditions they need to stay well-preserved in storage. At the same time, we've been able to condition check the objects, update our inventory system and generally become more familiar with the collection.

Tiger skull collected by Maurice ©Tatton Park

The store is a real treasure trove of weird and wonderful objects, many of which are too sensitive to be on display. Our elephant skull and three enormous tusks needed three people to move into position. Boxes of birds’ eggs and butterflies had to be carefully inspected and wrapped. Handling some objects can prove dangerous if the right precautions are not taken, so gloves are essential for animal skins and taxidermy that may have been treated with mercury or arsenic many years ago. Our collection of swords, spears and arrows are on low shelves to minimise injury should they fall.

Each box and shelf has photographs and labels to show what it contains, and the contents are wrapped and padded with acid-free tissue. We hope that this will make the collection more accessible in future and keep it safe and secure for many years to come.

You can see Maurice’s collection of wonderful objects in the Maurice Egerton exhibition in the mansion and learn more about Maurice’s adventures around the world. Also, during October half term, why not join us at the mansion and parkland during Skin and Bones week – a celebration of all things natural history. You will have the chance to meet experts, see exciting objects not normally on display and go on fascinating trailer rides with the rangers to learn more about the natural world around us.

Find out more about Skin and Bones event in the Mansion.
Hope to see you there!

Sarah and Catherine in the Mansion

Feeding time...

The relatively new Allen Bird Hide built overlooking Melchett Mere is now augmented by a bird feeding station. Peanuts and bird seed will be fed either side of the hide to attract a variety of woodland birds.

Woodpecker ©Gary Cross

Many tit species plus finches and woodpeckers should be in attendance. It may take a little time to get going but as the natural food supply dwindles it should prove a popular lifeline for the birds.

Darren Morris, Tatton Park Ranger

Park life

Autumn is a season of change. Colder weather and shortened daylight hours warn our flora and fauna of the prospect of inhospitable conditions and dwindling food supply. Nature acts accordingly, whether it be trees dropping leaves or a bird flying thousands of miles for sunnier climes.

Bird migration is well underway and visible migration was evident in the parkland with recent sightings of Common Terns, Wheatear and Common Sandpiper. Meadow Pipits become a regular sight as they move from their summer upland breeding grounds. Winter Thrushes, Redwing and Fieldfare arrive from Scandinavia and Pink-footed Geese may be seen flying over in typical V formation.

Visitors enjoying the bird hide

©George Littler

Our resident birds are also joined by continental visitors of the same species to enjoy our relatively milder winters. The popular new Allen Hide will be a great place to witness the arrival of numerous wildfowl species also arriving from colder northern climes. A new bird feeding station will also be in operation here, enabling visitors to enjoy the woodland species at close quarters.

Find out more about the parkland and wildlife at Tatton Park on our website.

Darren Morris, Tatton Park Ranger

Going up in the world!

Since the Flower Show came to a close (during which we won two gold medals!!) we have all been busy back in the garden.




    Newly tied apple cordons ©Neil Langan



For the last month I’ve been pruning and tying-in the fruit trees in the walled kitchen garden, specifically plums and greengages. They have been pruned and trained in their ‘fan style’. This is very tricky technically, because they fruit on last year’s wood, which means, if you’re not careful you can end up with incredibly long branches with a few fruits right at the end. You tend to take off the long shoots in order to make dormant buds break. Ideally you have the fruits evenly spaced up each fan rib but on short, fruiting laterals. It takes years of practice! We have also pruned and tied in the apple cordons in the middle of the veg garden. All this work is required to be done from ladders so it makes it a long job for each tree. 



We have Victoria, Czar and Kirkes Blue plums and Dennison’s Superb, Old Greengage and Coes Golden Drop greengages. These are all historical varieties which were grown around 1910. These varieties were planted probably ten years ago now by a couple of us and by Simon Tetlow, our Garden Team Leader. They’ve now stretched a good 15 ft wide and reach up to the coping stones at the top of the wall. We are now enjoying the fruits of our labours as we are picking plums and gages for sale in the Garden Shop.

Since finishing the pruning we have been busy weeding in the kitchen garden. The weather has been very kind to the weeds and helping them grow! We’ve been unkind to the weeds in return, and have been hoe-ing them off for the last two weeks or so. We’re still cropping a considerable amount of fruit and veg for the shop including courgettes, cucumbers, cabbage, onions, beans, lettuce, potatoes and raspberries, nectarines, plums and greengages.

Further information about the walled kitchen garden at Tatton Park.

John Hoxworth, Craftsman Gardener

There's a buzz in the parkland...

There are some real Vespas in Tatton Park. However, these ones are Vespa crabro, more commonly known as the European hornet.

While out looking for wasps’ nests the Ranger team came across an Oak tree in Boat House Wood that the hornets are visiting. The very large hornets are less aggressive than wasps and can be seen taking tree sap and wasps, as well as other insects.

Hornet in the parkland ©Tatton Park

The tree in question is now littered at its base by many pieces of broken insects caught and eaten by these hunters. The hornets are yellow and red/brown in colour, around 25-30mm long and have a very loud wing drone.

There are no other known species of hornet nesting in Britain. This is the first time the team have seen hornets in Tatton – they are not often known to come so far North West. You could say they have caused quite a buzz!

Find out more about the wildlife and activities in the Parkland at Tatton Park.

Simon Jones, Tatton Park Ranger

Summer ‘Boredom Busters’ in Tatton’s Parkland

This summer’s Boredom Busters took place on Tuesday 16th and Tuesday 23rd August. These annual events are fantastic opportunities for children and their parents/guardians to explore the rich habitat of Tatton’s parkland, under the expert guidance of the ranger team.

Each session started with a tractor and trailer ride through the parkland to see the Red and Fallow deer herds at close quarters. July is prime calving time; nearly two hundred are born each summer in the park and we were lucky enough to see a number of newborn calves (Red deer young) and Fawns (Fallow young).

Following the parkland ride, the rangers led the group on a minibeast hunt in ‘Millennium Wood’ – a young plantation of purely native species. Clem West, Tatton Park Ranger commented “this mixed environment hosts all sorts of creepy crawlies: Centipedes, Beetles, Frogs and Toads and the rangers were on hand to help the many budding David Bellamys to identify them!”



Pond dipping  © George Littler



Next was pond dipping: netting and identifying all kinds of pondlife, including: Dragonfly Nymphs, Pond Skaters, Water Boatmen and Whirligig beetles. Prime pond-dipping prize for many children are leeches – last year’s champion Boredom Busters’ find was a leech over 8 inches long at full stretch!

There were plenty of other opportunities to enjoy the parkland wildlife during this session. This time of year brings a rich diversity of birdlife and fledglings. Each ranger has their own speciality interest: birds, fungi, trees, butterflies and much more, and they relish sharing their enthusiasm and knowledge with participants.

It is great to have the opportunity to share our love of the parkland with visitors, especially with a younger audience.

Don't forget - children can also have a great time following the Parkland Explorer trail at Tatton Park.
Clemency West, Tatton Park Ranger

The Vikings come to Tatton Old Hall!




Battle ©Margaret Clark



Sunday 14 August  saw the Old Hall taken over by The Vikings of Middle England, a really great group of re-enactors showing us how the Vikings lived...not just how we all imagine they were like, fighting and pillaging, but how they were in their daily life.



Of course the fighting is important and these guys don’t pull any punches and demonstrated types of weapons and how they were used both as individual warriors and also as an organised fighting group...axes biting into shields and pieces of wood flying off into the air...and encouraged to cheer for your chosen warrior.



Also a Viking Longship Experience...with a real boat... with involvement for the children imagining what it would have been like to sail in one of these ships and be ready to fight when you landed.

There was a storyteller keeping the children engrossed, have-a-go archery, try your hand at calligraphy and strike a Viking coin...along with just chatting to the re-enactors by their tents.



My Lady

©Margaret Clark



Gauntlet Birds of Prey gave their usual professional display of flying the birds...then a display of a war horse with the rider giving a very accurate account of using a lance and sword and shooting the longbow from the back of the horse...he was dressed in the Norman way but then they were originally Northmen and Normandy was another Viking Kingdom.

Most of the displays happened twice and kept everyone interested and happy...



It was a non-stop day with something going on all the time, very busy with lots of people coming through the Old Hall, trying on armour in the Great Hall and being interested in the building and the people who lived there from early days right through to the 1960s...and the weather was kind to us!

A successful and great day all round.  You can find out more about Viking Sunday here and look out for similar events on our website.



Margaret Clark

History Interpreter Guide





Lovely Lou Lou!

Lou Lou with Evan and Elly

We have been searching for a new Jersey cow for some time now as we plan to start milking the four native breeds of milk cattle, the Shorthorn, the Jersey, the Guernsey and the Ayrshire. Last year we purchased a Guernsey called Beauty and an Ayrshire called Pansy. We have been busy halter training them and getting them used to their new surroundings, they will both be put into calf this year ready to start milking in 2012.

Whilst at the Cheshire County Show this year I got chatting to Mr Jones a well know Jersey breeder from Lancashire, I explained what we were looking for and David thought he had just the animal for us. As soon as I saw Lou Lou, (her posh full name being Bluestone Antheas Louise, far too much a mouthful for an everyday name) I knew she was the lady for us. Beautiful looking and just the nature we were searching for.

Being prepared for milking

We have now been milking for three weeks and everything is running really smoothly, far too smoothly for life on a farm. Milking is 2pm each day and as we walk her up to the shippon she draws a big crowd with her, resembling the pied piper….It’s great to actually see the milk going into the bucket as we have a Perspex unit that enables the visitors to see exactly how much milk she is giving. We plan to chart how much milk she gives on a weekly basis and follow her lactation curve.

The next step is to start the butter churning demonstrations, however at the moment the pigs are having a daily treat of gold top milk courtesy of our lovely Lou Lou.

You can find out more about our other animals at the farm on our website.

Jayne Chapman, Farm Manager

My working weeks at Tatton

Heather preparing the dolls' house for the new exhibition

The very first day of my work experience, and I think what they say about first impressions is definitely true. It was a blur of hard work, fun and lots and lots of experience.

To begin with, I was introduced to the farm team, which quickly brings me to what I noticed the most about Tatton Park; its staff. Every member of staff I’ve had the pleasure of working with here have been as kind and helpful as can be, and have made my time here even more memorable and enjoyable.

Anyway, on to the farm. I’ve been to the farm twice in my two weeks of work experience, both times in my first week, and both times were terrific. Amongst other jobs around the farm, I got a chance to lead in the Clydesdales, Finn and Blossom (although there was a slightly hairy moment when a hornet kept bothering Tabitha, who got a little worried), accompany the pigs indoors and outdoors (and got a chance to see Tallulah’s new piglets!), bring in the new reindeer and the cows, and groom the donkeys, as well as more cleaning. The biggest job on our first day was bringing in the lambs, marking the ones over 35kg for the future (we all know what happens on a farm).

Another area of Tatton I got to work in was with the rangers, which again I did twice. On Wednesday, I got to help out with an Education trip, which basically involved taking a school group out in the park in a trailer, and letting them try out some wildlife-based activities; Mini beast hunting in the Millennium Wood, and Pond dipping. I also got to see some pricket skulls and stag skulls from red deer and fallow deer, and drive around the park looking at the rare breeds of sheep they have at Tatton.

On Friday, I spent most of the time driving a buggy, emptying the bins and picking up litter around the car park and eating areas (it was a lot more fun than it sounds...no really, it was). I also got to collect some grasses from the private fields in Tatton for the Rangers Exhibition.

The other thing I got to do on week one was to try my hand at Education. I spent the day at the farm, dressed as a WWII farm girl, helping out with the various activities. I got to spend time at each of the four bases; learning about life at home in WWII with Aunt Mary, playing old games with Etta, cleaning leather and ‘milking cows’ with Bob, and feeding the goats and chickens with Evan.

My second try at Education came in week two, when I spent the day at the Old Hall, again dressed up, but this time as a Tudor. I also got a title: Mistress Heather. I did completely different things this time, getting to watch the school group try out Tudor cooking, archery, jousting, and learning about weaponry and armour throughout history. I was also lucky enough to watch a falconry display, which featured a number of birds, including a bald eagle, a vulture and a falcon.

The remaining three days I spent in the mansion, doing various tasks. On Wednesday, I was in the Ethnographic store, photographing and recording the old and often valuable artefacts kept in there. Amongst other things, I came across an elephant skull, and a tusk that was unbelievably huge. I also got to take a tour around the mansion, witnessing all of its splendour, and preparing a dolls house for children in the Architectural exhibition that was about to open.

On Thursday, I got to hoover the carpet that I walked along on the tour, and having the pleasure of seeing the mansion in a different light (a.k.a. a lot less light). Although, I didn’t spend all that much time in the mansion on that day, instead going into Knutsford to find frames for some architectural pictures that needed to be hung in the mansion.

Finally, I spent my last day in an office with another work experience girl, making a new staff library. This basically meant that we spent the day glue-sticking library cards and various other items into the library books.

All in all, I think my time at Tatton have been two weeks to remember, and I would recommend anyone to come here, purely for the diversity of the activities you’ll be doing, and the excellent company you’ll have whilst doing it.

Thank you Tatton Park!

Heather Dowling

Willow Weaving Workshop





A group of ten ladies gathered into a room at the Stable Yard. Were they all eager to try their hand at willow weaving a simple individual creation? Could they really achieve this - that was the question. This was an attempt to introduce a craft which our ancestors were excellent at. Using willow for baskets, chairs, tables, etc. would need some experience so we started by making simple circles, which incidentally are essential to any sculpture. Much fun, laughter and frustration followed but eventually we all got there.



and here's one I made earlier..



During the day many wonderful designs were created including a large fish, butterflies, dragon flies, garlands, sun flowers, etc.

Everyone was amazed at what they had created and learnt in such a short time. Hopefully this taster will encourage these very able ladies (where were the men)? to join a local group and create many more wonderful willow objects.

Judith Goodburn - Interpreter Guide

The first willow weaving workshop at Tatton Park in 2012 takes place on 17 March 2012.

Grand designs & small details

We have just put the finishing touches to two new Mansion exhibitions which will run from July 18th to 30th October 2011 at Tatton.


“In Our View” is an exhibition of beautiful photographs taken by our Ranger team. Each team member has selected the best from their own personal photographic collections. This magical exhibition shows something of the amazing diversity of flora and fauna of the Tatton estate from the perspective of people who work closely in this environment.

The Nature Table will bring to mind school day collections of things found on rambles in the country, and we hope that the exhibition will inspire our visitors to bring their own cameras to take amazing natural history photos in the Park.

Working with nature again, but this time Geodiversity, a trail will lead you through the Mansion at Tatton highlighting various geological materials which have been used in its construction. This is all part of our architectural theme for the summer.

Caroline Schofield setting up the exhibition

“Grand Designs and Small Details” is our second exhibition, which takes a look at the development of the Mansion building at Tatton Park throughout the Georgian and Regency periods. The Tatton Park Architectural Drawings Conservation, Digitisation and Access project has recently led to the conservation of 97 important original architectural drawings of the house, including those by architects Samuel and Lewis William Wyatt. A further 56 drawings are currently with our paper conservator undergoing studio conservation. Over 100 drawings have now been digitally scanned, and selected images of them have been used to tell the story of the Egertons and their house and home making. In addition we are displaying some of the original drawings which architect Lewis William Wyatt produded for the interior details of the house. These drawings are fragile – so make the most of the rare opportunity to come and see them.


Caroline Schofield, Mansion & Collections Manager, Tatton Park

Day one nearly done!

Tatton's Japanese Garden

The RHS Flower Show may be months in the planning but we very swiftly speed through the hours once the show is finally upon us. 

There's been a great buzz on the first day of the show, with a lot of interest around Tatton's Japanese Garden inspired (and gold medal winning) garden - Paradise Isle - 100 years on.  We've got a fantastic spot with the other local gardens making up the Cheshire Gardens of Distinction's area.

My favourite flowers of the show in the floral marquee

Tatton's presence - other than the show garden - is a Marketing and an Education tent. For us, in Marketing, it's a great opportunity to chat to people about what we do at Tatton and to try and encourage visitors to come back to see all we have to offer here.  We also get asked all sorts of questions about the flowerbed too - so if you don't know your acer palmatum from your elbow, now is the time to find out!

  

Beautiful bug house!

After many years of doing the show the team has learnt a few essential tips to see you through the 5 days: water, suncream, sunglasses (for those glaring walkways) water and a bit more water.  This year we might just (fingers treble crossed) get away without the brollies.  And a break in the Country Living tent doesn't go amiss either.

Here's a few of the highlights for me of day one...
Eleanor Gorsuch, Marketing