Raby Castle’s latest exciting attraction, The Plotters’ Forest, is the perfect place to reap the many benefits of playing in nature for children.
Claire Jones, Head of Leisure and Tourism at Raby Estates, said:
“In the modern world, ‘immersive play experiences within nature can be hard to find – we’ve all heard the depressing statistics about children spending less time outdoors. But the benefits of outdoor play are so well-documented that we committed to this approach early on. It just seemed to fit perfectly with everything we believe here at Raby.”
So what exactly are the major benefits of playing outdoors? Read on to find out.
Credit – Visit County Durham
Outdoor play encourages a range of physical, mental and wellbeing benefits
Not only is outdoor play beneficial for children’s activity levels and physical health, it can also improve their mental focus. Countless studies have pointed out the connection between children’s exercise levels and their concentration span: one possible reason for the growing interest in Forest School approaches, particularly in Early Years settings.
And there are plenty of other physical, mental and wellbeing benefits to outdoor play, including helping children get their daily dose of vitamin D – vital for healthy bones – to maintaining a healthy sleep cycle – essential for growing bodies and brains.
There’s also the fact that playing in the sunshine has been found to increase serotonin levels, boosting energy and encouraging positive moods, while simultaneously reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol. One recent British study reported that children’s stress and anxiety could be reduced after just five minutes of playing outdoors!
Credit – @jayneyfaygs
Outdoor play engages the senses
Sensory play has long been recognised as the gold standard in the world of children’s development. It helps build nerve connections in the brain, encourages mastery of gross and fine motor skills, helps with language and cognitive development and can even support children in controlling their emotions.
Outdoor play tends to be a far more varied yet gentle sensory experience compared to indoor equivalents. In The Plotters’ Forest, children can smell and touch the pine trees, hear bird calls and buzzing insects and enjoy the rich and varied colours of the natural world. Getting close to tantrum territory? We recommend getting outside for some natural stimulation, and enjoying some sunlight on skin, a gentle breeze or collecting leaves to compare scents and textures.
Outdoor play encourages creativity and imagination
In The Plotters’ Forest, there’s plenty of fun equipment which youngsters can use to create mayhem and mischief: giant musical instruments, spinning signposts, Plotters’ Portraits, Talking Tubes and more. However, there’s also lots of open space designed to foster more inventive, creative play – tunnels, towers, stargazing decks – where little ones can let their imaginations run wild.
Claire Jones explained the decision-making process:
“After lots of research and discussion, we decided that the best kind of outdoor play strikes a fine balance between structured and unstructured activity.”
“We wanted to give children the best of both worlds: a stimulating environment, with plenty of freedom for wilder play. We thought back to our own childhoods, and felt the days we’d spent making up our own games and rules were amongst the best play experiences we’d had! We wanted to make sure our young visitors could feel something of that freedom, too.”
And beyond simply having fun, creative play is also another great way to help build neurological connections, develop language and more vital skills.
Outdoor play helps children engage with nature
The Plotters’ Forest was designed with the natural environment at its heart. Built as sustainably as possible, visitors will discover natural materials sourced from Raby’s sustainably managed woodland.
And instead of the plastic and garish colours found in many playgrounds, Raby Rebels will find natural shades of green and red inspired by nature’s palette.
Claire Jones added:
“We decided to weave the play equipment through the existing trees and around natural clearings because we wanted to respect the forest and the wildlife it sustains.”
“We hope that The Plotters’ Forest will provoke thoughts and questions about the woodland environment and the life it supports, and foster the kind of curiosity about the world we love to see in young people.”
Credit – @the_griffiths_kids_
The Plotters’ Forest will also be available for exclusive hire, giving teachers, parents and other youth groups the opportunity to deepen youngsters’ connection with the great outdoors. Private visits can be tailored to particular interests or a curriculum focus – for example, minibeasts or the seasons – in an inspiring and engaging manner.
Claire added:
“Of course, play is our primary focus – we want children of all ages to enjoy our plotters’ paradise. But we also recognise that there’s also a valuable opportunity to use play as a gateway to a more profound appreciation and understanding of the world, our wildlife and woodland ecosystems.”
Tickets for The Plotters Forest are now available. To find out more and to book tickets please visit here. For private hire enquiries, contact admin@raby.co.uk
News
Share your Story
We need your help!
Every day we discover new fascinating stories about the family at Raby, as we establish our archives and collections. We want to invite visitors to share their stories and memories with us, to help us uncover more about the hard-working individuals who kept the castle and estate running. From those who kept Raby clean and the guests fed, to those who kept the gardens maintained and cared for the horses in the stables. We want to build an insight into how local, working people interacted with the castle and its family throughout its history.
If you’ve got a story to share, please get in touch and email admin@raby.co.uk
What are we looking for?
We are looking for anyone who might have stories about people who have worked at Raby Castle over time. Is there a relative, or someone you know, who worked at the castle? Were they a gardener, a tenant, a housekeeper or a scullery maid perhaps?
We are interested if you have been told about what they experienced day-to-day, or if you have any interesting stories about their time at the castle. Better still, if you have any pictures or mementos from their time here, such as diaries, letters, or other primary source material, this will help us to learn about their experiences first-hand.
Staff in Coal Yard
How will my story be used?
We are hoping to increase our understanding and create an ever-growing catalogue of people who worked here throughout the years. We also aim to use some of these stories for an upcoming exhibit as part of The Rising developments, which will offer more detail about the workers at Raby Castle.
Why are you doing this project?
We want to tell the story of all the different kinds of people associated with Raby, helping us to offer new interpretations of the castle’s history. We have some basic archival sources available, such as wage slips from the late 18 and early 1900s. These tell us names and roles, but nothing about the people or their lives.
Jack Armstrong, Head Gardener 1950s onwards (award for growing sweet peas at Raby Castle)
How can I help?
If you have any information you think might be of interest, please contact admin@raby.co.uk with brief details about you and your person of interest. You don’t need to have full story, any information about your person and their role will help us add to our existing knowledge, and help to remember everyone’s contribution to Raby.
We aim to respond to everyone throughout the summer and keep you informed as to how and when we will use your stories.
We understand that by providing any information, you are consenting for us to use it in future interpretation and projects, including The Rising. Please let us know if that is not the case.
We’re looking forward to hearing more stories such as Lucy Beattie’s, who was the Gatekeeper in the 1900s and a much-loved member of the Raby family.
Raby Cricket Club 1951- Arthur Galilee and his father Jack Galilee (pictured). Both worked at Raby where Jack was a Groom.
News
Meet Raby’s New Head Gardener
As our ground-breaking Rising developments gather pace, we have welcomed a host of new team members to Raby including new Head Gardener Tim Marshall. Tim will be working alongside World-class Italian garden designer, Luciano Giubbilei and Landscape Architect, Alistair Baldwin to bring our Walled Garden vision to life. We caught up with Tim to find out about his background and how he plans to approach this exciting project.
Where did you career take you before joining Raby?
I have been working in horticulture for the last 27 years, 23 of those years as a head gardener. I started my career at Scampston Hall in North Yorkshire where I worked with the international garden designer, Piet Oudolf transforming the walled garden. After Scampston I moved to North Norfolk where I worked on the Holkham Estate, initially as the head gardener but was later promoted to the position of landscape manager which also included the management of the forestry. I left Holkham to work with Tom Stuart-Smith on a project in the Thames Valley, just outside Henley on Thames. On completion of this project I was asked to work in Jordan with Arne Maynard to help regenerate the private gardens of the King and Queen. After a number of years I returned back to the UK to work for the Bamford family on the Daylesford Estate as the garden manager. Following this I was asked to lead a large horticultural project on the Island of Nevis in the Caribbean, designed by Arne Maynard. After a number of years in the Caribbean I decided with my family that we wanted to head back to the UK for a stable life and to enrol my daughter in the educational system. Though before this was possible, I was requested once again to return to Jordan to help with a very large landscape installation in the South of the country. After a year working on this project, I took up the opportunity to move back to the UK and start an exciting position on the Raby Estate.
(c) Peter Gunton
Which of your skills do you feel will be most valuable in the Gardens renovation?
I am a self-confessed plantaholic, which I feel will come in handy with this project. My eye for detail is excellent, which will certainly be necessary, along with my strong management skills after many years of organising challenging workloads.
Tell us more about The Rising development and the changes throughout the gardens?
The Rising development within the gardens will involve a complete redesign of the garden areas but retaining the key historic features and some of the larger original plants for continuity. The development will bring the gardens to the pinnacle of modern design. The main walled garden areas will be designed by Luciano Giubbilei and the outer landscaped areas by Alistair Baldwin, both of which are top-level garden designers.
CGI of the Duchess’ Walk
What will your role include?
The main purpose of my role will be to interact with the construction team and designers on the new project, to ensure the design is implemented and completed as Lord and Lady Barnard envisage. Also making sure that any remaining garden areas are kept to a high specification for visitors to enjoy throughout the construction period.
Who will you be working with?
My role will transect across the whole of the estate, working with all departments at any given time. With the Rising project I will be working closely with Lord and Lady Barnard, the designers, contractors, the construction team and the in-house gardens team.
What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
Getting stuck into the new developments and seeing the site transform into a major inspirational tourist attraction for County Durham and the North East.
Why Raby?
Raby is the best of both worlds. It is an amazing remnant of the past history of the North of England providing a time capsule of how life was, but also how diversification in the present age can be highly successful and inspiring.
As the Rising development begins to gather pace at Raby Castle, we are undertaking a significant recruitment drive to find new team members to join us on this exciting journey.
We’d like to welcome new Assistant Site Manager, Damien Jones and Traffic Marshall, Aidan Armstrong to the construction team, along with Joiners, Mark Jeremiah, Victoria Mills and Labourer, Daniel Dickson. Joining the buildings project team we welcome Skilled Tradesperson, Jon Rogers, Labourer, Aidan Braithwaite and Ian Hutchinson as our new Decorating Supervisor.
Assistant Site Manager, Damien Jones, Head Gardener, Tim Marshall, Joiner, Victoria Mills and Traffic Marshall, Aidan Armstrong
The castle team will see the introduction of our new Head Gardener, Tim Marshall who will be leading on our re-development of the Walled Gardens, alongside World-class Italian Garden Designer Luciano Giubbilei and Landscape Architect, Alistair W Baldwin Associates. The curatorial and archives team have also got a new addition of Interpretation and Engagement Assistant, Lauren Foster, who will be helping to engage the public in Raby’s story.
Congratulations to long-serving admissions team member, Jackie Deeming who is taking up a full time position with us at the castle. Paul Green has moved from the gardens team to his new role as Grounds Maintenance Assistant, Lindsay De Martino is moving to a new Retail Assistant role and Emma Dodgson is moving to a permanent General Assistant position. It is fantastic to see so many existing employees developing their careers within Raby.
Our new Visitor Services Assistant, Michelle Fenwick will provide a friendly face as the first point of contact for visitors. We’d also like to welcome a host of new General Assistants across our hospitality areas, to provide the public with a wonderful experience, Tyler Macauley-Lockett, Eden Woodland, Emily Barker, Lydia Newberry, Rosie Bell, Susan Newcombe, Maisy Newberry, Keira Chippendale, Morag Meldrum and at High Force Hotel, Jessica Wearmouth. Charlie Butler will be joining the High Force team as Catering Assistant as well as Amanda Falshaw our new Duty Manager.
Grounds Maintenance Assistant, Paul Green, HR & Recruitment Assistant, Stephanie Bell, Visitor Services Assistant, Michelle Fenwick and Admissions Team Member, Jackie Deeming
Across the wider estate, we’d like to say a big hello to our new Land Agent Charlotte Marrison who has recently started with us. Last, but not least, in our Staindrop Office in Durham, we’d like to welcome Stephanie Bell, our new HR and Recruitment Assistant, who will be helping us to attract even more people to the team. This year we sadly bid farewell to Bertie Bainbridge, Gardener at Selaby Hall, Ben Hall, our Finance Project Manager, Sue Matthews, Manager at Langdon Beck and Tom Birtles, our Shropshire Land Agent who are moving on to pastures new. Thank you to Bertie, Ben, Sue and Tom for all of their support at Raby and we wish them all well in future endeavours.
If you’d like to join the Raby team, have a look at our current vacancies.
Our Chapel at Raby Castle is much loved by visitors. In her first month at Raby Castle, Lauren Foster, our new Interpretation and Engagement Assistant gets to grips with the complex history and architecture of this tranquil space, as part of Historic Houses’ #FeatureFriday. Read on to find out more.
This ancient chapel, which was then in a ruinous and neglected state, was repaired and refitted for divine service by Henry 2nd Duke of Cleveland in 1848. Further restoration and decoration was effected by Henry 9th Baron Barnard in 1901 and 1908.’ -Inscription from Chapel Arcade
Raby’s Chapel was built during the early 14th century, but has undergone a number of significant changes since. The 4th Duchess of Cleveland, writing in 1870, describes the area as previously ‘entirely neglected, the casements unglazed and boarded up, and even some of the stonework of the windows in a crumbling state. The wild birds roosted and built their nests there, and for those without wings the only possible entrance was by a ladder through one of the windows,’ before the 2nd Duke’s intervention in the 19th century.
The Chapel emphasises the importance of religious service and divine representation to the families who have owned the castle. The architecture and design offer an insight into changing priorities and design preferences throughout generations.
The ribbed vault roof of the chancel features an early vaulting technique, indicating the age of the original Chapel structure. Quadripartite vaulting appeared during the High Gothic period and is found in Cathedrals from the 13th century onwards.
Changes and Restorations
Floors:
In 1780, the floor of the Chapel was raised by architect John Carr during the construction of the carriageway through Entrance Hall below. Whilst considered an ‘unorthodox transformation’ by some, the unique means of accessing the castle provided a strong first impression. In the mid-19th century, following the 2nd Duke’s interest in repairing the chapel, William Burn was entrusted with restoration and lowered the floor again.
Windows:
‘The Chapel… originally lighted by a large five-light window to the west, the tracery of which covered a large part of the wall – some say, nearly the whole of it. This, of course, had to be closed with masonry on the erection of the Baron’s Hall, with the east wall of which it then became incorporated.’
Catherine Lucy Wilhelmina, 4th Duchess of Cleveland, writing in 1870
The window of the South Altar was covered over in the 17th century, and only reopened in 1901 when the East Window was inserted. Plans drawn up in 1899 for the 9th Baron Barnard, emphasise the importance of ‘old stone to be used as far as possible,’ and the restoration to be ‘exact copy of old work.’ The window tracery (the stonework elements supporting the glass in the window) in the south alter window is original but has been heavily restored.
Arcade:
The arcade at the rear of the Chapel would have previously been unglazed, and had wooden shutters to be closed for privacy. They could have been opened for members of the household to watch services from the Baron’s Hall on the other side. The arcade was filled up and is now decorated with early 20th century portraits of important figures from the Neville period.
Highlights for visitors to look out for
Some objects and art within the Chapel are of both personal and historic significance to the Raby Family, highlighting themes of remembrance and loyalty.
Memorial cross:
The Memorial Cross within the Chapel commemorates the Honourable Henry Cecil Vane, the eldest son of the 9th Lord and Lady Barnard. Henry was a Captain in the Royal Field Artillery and injured in battle in France during the First World War. He died of his injuries in a Rouen hospital in October 1917 and was buried in the nearby St. Sever cemetery.
Pew ends:
The carved ends of the pews depict heraldic supporters of the Arms of the Duke of Cleveland. These are the figures shown holding up the shield in a coat of arms. In this case, lions and hounds to represent courage and loyalty.
Arcade:
In 1901, the 9th Lord Barnard uncovered the medieval arcade, and commissioned portraits to celebrate Raby during the period of the Neville family. The artist took inspiration from tomb effigies and stained-glass windows to try and make accurate depictions of the historic figures. Though more contemporary, these images offer an important representation of the Neville family. Very little evidence exists in the castle from the time of the Nevilles, after losing the castle due to the failed Rising of the North.
Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland (1364-1425)
Born at Raby Castle, Ralph Neville played a significant role in the defence of the northern border, as well as in determining the course of the monarchy under King Richard II and King Henry IV. The Earl of Westmorland is also portrayed in Shakespeare’s Henry plays as being influential in many strategic military manoeuvres. His effigy in Staindrop church depicts him in between his two wives.
Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland (1379-1440)
Ralph Neville’s second wife and daughter of John of Gaunt, father of Henry IV. Her marriage to Ralph Neville produced nine children who survived into adulthood, including Cecily the ‘Rose of Raby.’ By the time of her death, Joan was the mother of an earl, three barons, a countess, three duchesses and a bishop.
Thomas Hatfield, Bishop of Durham (c1310- 1381)
One of the last warrior bishops, he served under Edward III. In 1378 he granted John Neville, 3rd Baron Neville, permission to fortify his property at Raby. This gave him licence to ‘make a castle of his manor of Raby, and to embattle and crenelate its towers.’
John Neville, 3rd Baron Neville (c. 1337- 1388)
Father of Ralph Neville. The fortification and expansion of Raby Castle begun under Lord John, who served as Admiral of the North. He played a key role in peace negotiations with Scotland in the 1380s.
Cecily Neville, Duchess of York (1415-1495)
Wife of Richard, Duke of York and mother of Kings Edward IV and Richard III. Born at Raby Castle, Cecily bore twelve children and weathered the Wars of the Roses. Her granddaughter Elizabeth of York married the Tudor King Henry VII in 1486, meaning all subsequent English and British monarchs are descendants of Cecily and Richard. (You can find out more about the ‘Rose of Raby,’ including her famous betrothal, in our other blogs.)
From left to right, Ralph Neville, Joan Beaufort, Thomas Hatfield, John Neville and Cecily Neville.
Stained Glass:
The Chapel contains some impressive early stained glass ranging from 12th century French glass from the Abbey of St. Denis, an ancient burial place of French monarchs, to 16th century German. Others were inserted by the 9th Lord Barnard as part of renovations in the early 20th century. It is still a mystery as to how the early glass found its’ way to Raby Castle.
The below pictures show stained glass depicting the Arms of the Dukes of Cleveland (first image), and the Arms of the Nevilles (second image).
The middle figure in the above stained glass is German, dated 16th century, and depicts one of the Three Magi (also known as the three wise men) kneeling.
The middle figure below is The Prophet Isaiah proclaiming the birth of Christ. This is from the Abbey Church of St. Denis in France, dated 12th century. He is flanked by two 16th century Swiss panels from a church at Mettmenstetten, near Zurich. The left shows St. Leogardus, a 7th century Burgundian bishop and martyr. The right depicts St. Bernard, the founder of the Cistercian order and St. Robartus, who later reformed it.
Alongside the impressive design features, the Chapel retained its function as a place of worship. The 4th Duchess, writing in 1870 describes ‘a service in this Chapel every morning at a quarter past nine, and every Sunday evening at ten o’clock during the time that the family resides here.’ The Chapel is also still occasionally used by the family. Today, visitors can explore the chapel and learn more about the history from our knowledgeable room guides during castle opening hours.
The castle is open seasonally (March – October) Wednesday – Sunday from 11am. During the summer the castle is also open on a Tuesday. Find out more and book tickets.
Winter and early spring provides the season for tree planting, and in addition to the thousands of saplings which are replanted across the estates’ woodlands and biodiversity schemes, this year will see an increase in new trees on the parkland at Raby.
After the devastation of three successive storms this winter, sadly we have seen widespread damage and lost several mature trees from the parkland, some of which date back to the early phases of planting, over 180 years ago. The forestry and estates maintenance team have risen to the challenge and have worked to clear the initial damage and make the park safe for visitors.
The sheer size and age of the trees involved has itself added to the task, requiring both skill and care to undertake safely. Specialist contractors, Dryad Arb were engaged to reduce some of the large trees on the approach to Raby Castle which stood at over 30m in height. As part of this work, split and damaged timber was removed from the upper branches of the trees, which would be out of reach for most traditional arboricultural equipment. Crown reduction, a process by which the weight and surface area of the branches and upper limbs of the trees are reduced, was then undertaken to improve the long-term resilience of the trees and improve their potential to withstand future storms.
A significant task is still in hand to deal with the remaining windblown stems, and where possible, some of the timber will be cut and re-purposed for use in the exciting developments and wider parkland. In a plan to keep a continuity of trees on the Parkland, several oaks and limes will be planted this season to provide a
growing resource that will in time, develop into towering, mature specimens for future generations to enjoy the park as we do today.
Our new highly anticipated adventure playground, The Plotters’ Forest, opened to the public on Friday 15th April 2022, in time for the Easter weekend.
Towering amongst the trees in our Christmas tree plantation, the playground offers an exciting mix of challenge, discovery and intrigue for local visitors, including the young and the young at heart.
Inspired by our past and the part the castle played in The Rising of the North in 1569, the playground will hopefully bring out some modern day ‘Raby Rebels’ as visitors take in the panoramic views of the parkland, experience sky-high turrets and treetop tunnels in the Plotters’ Spire, before slipping down the slides and interacting with the ground-level games that surround the structure.
The playground has also been designed with inspiration from some of Raby Castle’s architectural history, including the famous Neville Gateway.
For the plotters requiring a pitstop, the new catering kiosk, The Plotters’ Pantry, serves takeaway hot and cold drinks, freshly made sandwiches, snacks, cake and ice cream and conveniently overlooks the toddlers’ play area, which includes mini turrets, climbing equipment and chalkboards.
Speaking of the motivation behind the project, Raby Estate’s owners, Lord and Lady Barnard, said:
“Creating The Plotters’ Forest has been a dream of ours for years and is inspired by our own experiences as a family, when our own children were young.
“We’ve taken special care to ensure the playground blends into the forested area where it’s located, by using complementary textures, colours and sustainable materials. We believe that building a relationship with the outdoors inspires children to be resilient, curious and courageous – all qualities found in Raby Castle’s plotters of the past.”
Claire Jones, Project Director and Head of Leisure and Tourism at Raby Estates said:
“The opening of The Plotters’ Forest is a huge step for Raby Castle, marking a new chapter in the much-loved attraction’s history. It is also the first important milestone in The Rising development, which will attract new visitors to the area and create outstanding recreation for the local community.”
The Rising project will include the significant restoration and renovation of several historical buildings on the estate, the creation of a new café and events space, as well as a new visitor hub and landscaped areas. The wider site will launch in Summer 2023.
“With visitors able to purchase tickets that include The Plotters’ Forest, the deer park and castle, we hope it’s a well-rounded offering with something for all family members to enjoy” Claire continues.
The wooden boardwalk through the playground is accessible by wheelchair and pushchair, creating a fun and inclusive space for all of our visitors.
For further information, please visit our Play Page.
News
Exploring Raby’s Medieval Past
We are delighted to hear that our application to the Castle Studies Trust has been successful, for funding to support the creation of a digital model of our 14th century Neville stronghold, Raby Castle. The actual survey to create the model will not take place until May, but preparation is well underway including extensive documentary research by volunteers. Our Castle Curator, Julie Biddlecombe-Brown, who will oversee the project during 2022, reflects here on what the project will entail and what we hope to achieve.
Raby Castle is one of the most impressive intact castles in the North of England. Built in the 14th century by the powerful Neville family, it has a fascinating history. The castle was seized by the Crown in 1569 after the failed ‘Rising of the North’. In 1626 the castle was purchased by courtier Henry Vane the Elder and has remained in the family ever since. Over the last 300 years, successive generations have altered, updated and modernised parts of the building and although from the exterior, the 14th-century core is still evident, internal reworkings of the spaces mean that it is sometimes difficult to imagine and interpret the castle’s medieval past.
In 2016, the castle was inherited by Harry Vane, Twelfth Baron Barnard. Under his stewardship, ambitious development plans were passed to enhance the visitor journey at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens. The dynamic scheme known as The Rising will restore and preserve historic buildings which have been without purpose for decades, providing contemporary event and exhibition spaces, retail and dining experiences and a visitor’s hub. The transformation of our visitor offer at the castle, park and gardens includes improved interpretation of the castle building. An important part of this for the Raby team is increasing our understanding of how the castle functioned during its medieval heyday. In 1378 Bishop Hatfield granted John Neville a licence to crenellate, reflecting a building that was changing from a fortified manor house to the castle we see today. Less than 50 years later, John’s son Ralph arranged the betrothal of his daughter Cecily to his young ward, Richard Duke of York; a marriage that would play a central role in the Wars of the Roses and ultimately in shaping British history.
With no significant collections in the castle to reflect this period, Raby’s greatest medieval asset is the castle itself. Alterations over the past 400 years have reshaped the building, modernising it for residents as tastes and technologies changed. Whilst it is still medieval in appearance, key features of the 14th century building have been lost. In order to explore how the castle may have looked before these alterations, the Castle Studies Trust’s 2022 project will create a digital model of the castle that allows visitors to view the castle’s past appearance based on their ongoing research.
The creation of the digital model will be carried out by Durham University’s Archaeological Services, using a DJI S900 drone or equivalent. Photographs will be taken utilising a 14mm lens and 36 megapixel sensor, supported by RTK GNSS positioning. The data captured will then be uploaded and processed through Agisoft Metashape Professional and output as a 3D model utilising AutoCad Map 3D and giving the team the opportunity to ‘strip back’ known later additions and ‘rebuild’ known, lost features, such as the Barbican. The resulting model will be used in new interpretation at the castle, sharing these findings with our visitors.
Instrumental to the success of this project will be a team of our dedicated Raby volunteers. A group of our regular volunteers formed a research group to work with Curator, Julie to pull together all known sources for the castle’s architectural changes to support this project. They have researched documentary sources including primary and secondary accounts, topographical pictures, maps and plans and, in advance of the project, will be surveying the castle walls. Their findings will be brought together in a portfolio of evidence which can then be reviewed by specialists from Durham University Archaeological Services who will be carrying out further research and eventually creating the model itself.
There has never been a full archaeological survey of Raby Castle and opportunities for research have been limited in the past. This project reflects the ambitions and vision of Lord and Lady Barnard, the castle’s owners who firmly believe that it is by understanding and sharing the castle’s past that we will secure its future. This project is part of that important story.
To find out more about the Castle Studies Trust please visit their website.
News
New Directions – Raby’s Approach to Regenerative Farming
This month, new Raby Farm Manager, Philip Vickers caught up with Louise
Impey from Farmers Weekly about Raby’s approach to sustainable farming.
Read on to find out more.
It’s all change at Raby Estate as the farming business adopts a new direction in preparation for the future. Louise Impey finds out more.
A massive turnaround is how farm manager Philip Vickers describes the new farming policy that Lord Barnard is introducing at Raby Estate in County Durham, as the 1250ha farm commits to rolling out regenerative agriculture and building a legacy for future generations.
Just eight months into his new job, Mr Vickers is full of praise for the farm team and its willingness to adapt, with everyone being on board with the new direction and brimming with enthusiasm for what it involves.
Having dipped a toe in the water last year and tried out regenerative practices on small areas, the better March canopy measurements from direct drilled land gave them the confidence to expand it across the whole farm.
“This is not a half-hearted attempt,” says Mr Vickers. “We are putting the environment at the heart of what we do, while building in business resilience and flexibility.
“The new approach will enhance natural capital and deliver public goods, while allowing us to keep producing high yields and quality food.”
Lord Barnard has been a driving force behind the change of direction, he adds, having seen it working well on his land holding in Shropshire, where a contract farming agreement is managed by Heal Farms.
Maintaining or improving margins remains a key goal for the business, despite current world volatility and uncertainty. Attention to detail and knowledge exchange will help with that ambition, as change takes place.
Having inherited soils in very good condition, Mr Vickers has been able to push ahead with the plan to move to direct drilling and has doubled the farm’s drilling capacity from 8m to 16m.
A diverse rotation, with a mixture of spring and winter cropping, is being introduced. As a cornerstone of sustainable farming, the system won’t work without this diversity, he stresses, which should also help to tackle previous agronomic challenges.
“Having diversity means that issues such as club root and flea beetle in oilseed rape just aren’t as bad,” he explains. “As a result, we need to make fewer interventions.”
The varied rooting profile that comes with a wider rotation also improves soil structure and function, aids water management and gets nutrient cycling working – all things that have both business and environmental benefits, he adds.
The new 5/6 year rotation sees second wheats largely being replaced and the oilseed rape area reducing by a third. Into their place come spring barley and spring beans, with lupins also being given a try for the first time and rotational grass being included.
Having spring crops in the mix means that cover crops also feature, in line with another key principle of a regenerative system – keeping the soil covered. Given the farm’s northerly location, Mr Vickers is very aware of the possible challenges involved.
“There may be difficulties getting a cover crop established in time if we have a late harvest and destroying them soon after Christmas could be tricky in a wet year,” he acknowledges.
“However, even a late established, small cover crop is better than none. The key is not to jeopardise the following cash crop.”
The healthier, biological soils being created should give a wider window for travelling on the land without any damage, he comments, while the fertility-building benefits of cover crops and pulses will reduce reliance on bagged fertiliser.
He is also experimenting with a pea/barley bi-crop and feed wheat variety blends this year, to see what they have to offer. Lupins, which will be drilled in May, are being assessed as an alternative protein source to soya, which has a higher environmental cost.
A share farming agreement has the potential to be an integral part of the rotation, with sheep grazing cover crops, rotational grass and early drilled wheat crops, keeping the latter in check. Removing crop biomass in spring takes any disease out and eliminates the need for early PGRs and fungicides.
In these strange times, trying to keep a check on input costs and reducing fuel use across the whole rotation will make the figures work, with further gains likely to come from carbon and environmental payments.
The farm is already in Mid-Tier Countryside Stewardship and is keen to embrace ELMS on a local and landscape scale, with the protection of heritage landscapes and wildlife being a priority.
Mr Vicker’s final point is that a vibrant commercial business such as Raby Estate has financial, social and environmental targets, as well as the owner’s long-term aim to hand it over in better condition.
“We’ve started a journey, rather than arrived at our destination.”
Transition Goals
Maintaining margins while changing approach
Improving soil health and resilience
Enhancing the natural environment
Farm Facts
Raby Estate, Staindrop, Co Durham
1250ha (part of Raby’s wider land holding across County Durham and Shropshire).
Arable – winter wheat, oilseed rape, spring barley, spring beans, lupins and rotational grass
Sheep enterprise – share farming agreement with tenant farmer
650mm annual rainfall
Loam, high magnesium content soils
Farming at Raby
Find out more about our Farming team at Raby Home Farm.
To complete our March celebrations of inspirational women, we’d like to share with you a recent blog by We Are The City who spoke to Claire Jones about her fascinating career, constructions projects and leading role at Raby.
With a background rooted in the luxury leisure and tourism industry, Claire Jones has overseen the project management of many ambitious construction and renovation projects in Northern England, from concept and design, to build.
With an eye for detail, yet consistently focussed on the wider vision of delivering a first-class customer experience for the attractions she works with, Claire works closely with business owners to overhaul their offering, increase revenue streams and achieve long-term commercial success for future generations.
Claire is Head of Leisure and Tourism for Raby Estates and is currently Project Director for the ambitious new development at Raby Castle, known as The Rising.
We explore a little more about Claire’s previous experience and why The Rising is such a fantastic opportunity.
How did you become involved in development projects?
Even as a child I always had a project on the go, and nothing has changed in later life. My first house was a renovation project and when I started my career, I looked for a role that would provide all of the excitement and buzz that comes with a big project.
My first job was with a very progressive leisure and hospitality company, who at the time were introducing café bars (quite a new concept in the late nineties!) to the North West. They looked for interesting historic buildings, which would give their venues an edge, often breathing life into old banks and other landmark properties. I was involved in everything from the acquisition of buildings, through to design, construction and finally overseeing the operation of the business. We spent lots of time on research trips to London and further afield, to understand new trends and how we might introduce these to the North West.
How did your career progress?
From here I moved into the luxury hotel sector where I was able to mix my operational management skills with design and development work. I was again incredibly fortunate to work for entrepreneurial owners, keen to think outside the box, developing their properties to meet the needs of emerging markets, which included outdoor wedding venues, holiday cottages and spa retreats. In these roles, my experience operating leisure and tourism businesses was able to influence the design, working with architects and construction teams to ensure the venues we created would run efficiently, as well as look beautiful.
From here I branched out into country estate work, helping owners diversify their portfolio of land and property to include hospitality and leisure businesses. I also worked freelance, advising owners with limited sector knowledge, on how to design their buildings to become five-star hospitality venues.
Recent projects included the restoration of a beautiful manor house in West Yorkshire, derelict for many years, which the owners have successfully brought back to life as one of the most elegant and luxury hotels in the North. My last project before joining Raby was the development of a beautiful spa, swimming pool, gym and restaurant, to complement the existing hotel and grounds within a country estate.
What are the keys to success with new developments?
I think developers often focus on the specific design of a building but fail to look beyond the bricks and mortar, to the wider experience of guests arriving at a venue. Customers and guests need to feel that the design flows from the moment they turn into the grounds or estate; the arrival experience and surrounding landscape is just as important to the design process as the new building.
I think the other key factor is to listen to the experts who will be running the future business. Staff within a company usually have much more insight into how the building design might actually work in practice (or not) than the designers, therefore it is really important to get everyone involved at an early stage. It’s amazing how many times designers forget to add in a simple yet essential item such as a staff room or cleaning cupboard!
Why is The Rising such an exciting proposition?
Raby is one of those “once in a lifetime” projects. The opportunity here is mind-blowing. It truly is a blank canvas and I know what we are going to create will be exceptional.
My second interview with Lord and Lady Barnard was standing in a very overgrown, untouched part of the estate next to the Dutch Barn, a hidden heritage gem and them asking me “what would you do?”. What an opportunity! I knew I wanted the job there and then.
Lord and Lady Barnard have the perfect balance of being respectful of the history and heritage at Raby but progressive enough to see how sharing it with others in a new, innovative way, will preserve these buildings for the enjoyment of future generations.
What is the best part of your job?
Working within this fantastic setting with such a wonderful team who are thoroughly excited about our plans, is a delight.
Developments are hard work and stressful at times, but I get a real adrenalin rush from the tough deadlines and coordinating so many elements to come together all at once. I also think that working for independent businesses means you have the added joy of making the personal aspirations of a family or individual come together. It really is a case of delivering someone’s dreams, and there is a huge sense of satisfaction when you achieve this.
