RABY HIRES MANAGER TO DELIVER ESTATE’S SUSTAINABILITY VISION

Raby Estates has appointed a sustainability manager in a new role to set and deliver ambitious targets for environmental enhancement and meet the challenge of climate change.

Victoria Cadman, an environmental scientist with over 25 years consulting, NGO and advisory experience for private and public sector clients around the world, has taken up this newly created role to inspire, challenge and guide Raby to deliver agreed sustainability targets and accelerate the move towards a decarbonised future.

With an excellent track record in environmental science, project management and Environmental and Social Governance (ESG), Victoria will be responsible for developing and implementing Raby’s Sustainability Strategy and will be working closely with the property, farm and forestry management teams to support Raby’s regenerative farming strategy, co-ordinate agri-environmental schemes and develop carbon neutral, natural capital and scientific research initiatives across the Estate.

Duncan Peake, CEO at Raby Estates said: “Victoria’s arrival comes at a pivotal time for Raby as we continue with our ambitious development programme, The Rising, which will see investment, regeneration, and growth across the Estate to establish a new tourism destination and the first of its kind in the north of England.

“With Victoria’s assistance, we will commit to driving sustainability further at Raby by protecting the environment and playing our part in addressing the challenge of climate change.

“I have no doubt Victoria will quickly settle into the landed estate sector supporting Raby through a period of ongoing development and transition over the next few years and we’re incredibly pleased to welcome her to the team.”

Victoria will also develop other initiatives to engage tenants and suppliers with issues relating to additional elements of environmental sustainability and research renewable energy opportunities for the Estate to further Raby’s sustainability goals.

Victoria added: “I feel incredibly lucky to join Raby and at such an exciting time as it propels its offering whilst also restoring and repurposing heritage buildings.

“I am looking forward to working with the excellent team here, building on existing projects to help conserve the unique heritage and diverse natural landscape of this pioneering landed estate.”

For further information on The Rising, please visit: www.raby.co.uk/about-us/development/raby-castle-development/

 

Restoration work is underway on the 18^th century Coach House and Stables here at Raby Castle, a key part of ‘The Rising’ development, the ambitious project to restore historic buildings to create a unique new visitor experience for 2024.

The prominent Grade II* listed Coach House and Stables reflect the Vane family’s long-standing passion for horses. The buildings were designed by renowned architect John Carr in the late 1700s, to house the family’s collection of heritage carriages, as well as its horses. As part of the restoration, each of the buildings’ original features, including cast iron Victorian stable partitions, have been refurbished and repurposed to create a unique heritage space, which will be used for beautiful retail and exhibition areas.

Showcasing Raby Estate’s rich past, the Coach House will house a free-to-enter exhibition, giving visitors a taste of what is to come when venturing into the historic castle, surrounding parklands and wider areas of the Estate.

The centrepiece of this exciting exhibition will be an audio-visual projection onto a bespoke carved oak eight metre table, sourced sustainably from the Estate, crafted by local artisan furniture maker Anthony Nixon, of Barnard Castle. The projection will showcase the unique Teesdale landscape, part of the wider Estate, and highlight iconic landmarks such as High Force Waterfall, as well as the sights and sounds of the local area and wildlife

 

 

 

In the neighbouring Tack Room, extensive refurbishments are underway, restoring and conserving items from Raby’s proud equine history, including saddles, bridles, carriage sets and a traditional travelling chest which belonged to Henry Vane, 2^nd Duke of Cleveland when he served in the 75^th Regiment of Foot. Each restored piece will be displayed in its historic setting.

The Drying Room, traditionally used for storage, will include an additional audio-visual display, presented by Lord Barnard, in which he will provide insight into the work of the wider Estate.

 

 

 

Adjacent to the exhibition space, will be a beautiful new retail space, offering a curated selection of homeware and gifts, displayed on reclaimed furniture from across the estate. Raby’s philosophy is local wherever possible, with the retail space offering high-quality, artisan gifts you can’t find anywhere else.

“The Coach House and Stables have been a fundamental piece of our family’s history”, says Lord Barnard, “and we are pleased that it will play such an important role in Raby’s future. As well as displaying elements of Raby’s equine history, we are delighted to be offering an improved retail space to our visitors, presenting local products – many from our own estate.”

“The restoration of this beautiful heritage building will ground visitors in Raby’s fascinating history”, says head of leisure and tourism, Claire Jones. “Key to its development was the safeguarding and celebration of its original features, whilst repurposing it for an exciting future.

“We want to embrace and celebrate Raby’s unique appeal, creating memorable visitor experiences for all. We look forward to welcoming guests to this unparalleled heritage setting for the opening in spring 2024.”

For further information on The Rising, please visit: www.raby.co.uk/about-us/development/raby-castle-development/  

 

 

EXCITING NEWS! Raby Castle is applying for the Green Tourism Award

The awards certification programme recognises the commitment of tourism businesses, actively working to become more sustainable.

Sustainability is a key focus throughout the Estate. The Rising scheme perfectly demonstrates this, from the reclaimed estate materials being reused and recycled throughout the development to the estate oak, which has been felled to provide beautifully crafted benches for visitors to use.

The environmental impact of the development has also been considered, and a ground source heat network has been installed, which will provide 60% of the annual heat demand and reduce the development’s carbon emissions by 40%. Read more about the Ground Source Heat Network HERE.
Estate produce will run through beautiful menus, and carefully curated products from local suppliers will line the shelves of the retail areas.

Join us on our eco-friendly journey as we strive to become a more sustainable tourism destination!

Raby Estates looks forward to working with Mind at future events in 2024. Alongside, The Rising Development opening in Spring 2024 where people can enjoy the wide open beautiful spaces, elevating the elegant leisure destination complete with heritage buildings restored to incredible event spaces, remodelled walled gardens by world renowned Luciano Giubbilei, stylish shopping, exciting events and great food, sourced within the Estate served in the new Vinery Restaurant.

Raby Castle wins the Visitor Economy Award category in The Northern Echo, County Durham Together Awards 2023 held at Hardwick Hall on Wednesday 6th December 2023.

The Visitor Economy Award recognises an individual, organisation or business who has play a vital role in promoting the county as a safe and great place to visit for staycationeers, supporting the hospitality and tourism sector, to help visitor economy, being an advocate for the county.

We are thrilled to win this award and would like to thank our fantastic team, visitors and community. The Rising development opening in Spring 2024 will continue to add to our visitor experience with incredible new facilities for all to enjoy, including the restoration of heritage buildings given a new purpose for the 21st century becoming magnificent event spaces. Close by, will stand the thoughtful recreation of the historic glass house which once stood in the same spot, The Vinery Restaurant. The Walled Gardens have been remodelled with renowned garden designer Luciano Giubbilei with Lady Barnard which overlooks the castle to create a peaceful haven of romantic planting and unparalleled views. The scheme has created a number of new jobs throughout the construction phase with this set to increase once the operation is up and running. It is so important to the estate to use as many local suppliers and materials as possible this includes reclaimed material from across the estate being reused and recycled for modern-day use. We look forward to welcoming visitors in Spring 2024.

Many thanks to Northern Echo for arranging the awards and the other two fantastic finalists Ushaw College and Kynren.

 

Raby Castle and Estate, in the heart of County Durham, is committed to sustainability as part of its highly ambitious two-year redevelopment and restoration plan, known locally as The Rising.

The Estate has drilled two exploratory geothermal boreholes to identify whether a renewable energy source will help meet the annual heating requirements of The Rising scheme.

The Rising is the largest project undertaken at the Estate for generations and involves the restoration and repurposing of three beautiful heritage buildings in the magnificent grounds of Raby Castle, providing a unique experience for visitors. As well as the construction of two thoughtfully designed new buildings, it also includes the remodelling of the historic Walled Garden and the creation of landscaped public areas.

The project will open-up spaces that have never been seen by the public before, as well as introducing new event and exhibition spaces, retail, dining and a new visitors information centre. The first phase, the building of The Plotters’ Forest Adventure Playground and new visitor’s car park was completed in 2022, with the second phase currently ongoing.

Sustainability and futureproofing are a key focus for the Estate, and its custodian, Lord Barnard. Whilst expansion often means further demands on resources, there is a commitment to lessen the environmental impact of the development.

Raby Estate has been working closely with local specialist designers TGA Consulting Engineers, to explore renewable energy. The designer’s in-house Mechanical, Electrical and Building Performance teams have demonstrated, through in-depth analysis, that heat can be extracted from the ground via an ‘open loop’ Ground Source Heat Pump system, to provide 60% of the annual heat demand of The Rising scheme and reduce the development’s carbon emissions by 40%.

“The first stage of testing has shown extremely positive results”, says Matthew Cole, technical director at TGA Consulting Engineers. “This is an excellent and challenging project, with a lot of feasibility work on the appropriate integration of renewable energy solutions site-wide. It is hoped that the boreholes will deliver a minimum of 200kW of sustainable, low carbon thermal energy, with the opportunity to add further heat pump modules at a later date.

“The hope is to install a new district heating Ground Source Heat Pump system, to deliver heat to several buildings on the site – a valuable step towards Raby’s renewable future, and the start of Raby Estate’s net zero journey.”

“I am delighted that the initial studies have been so positive and suggest that we might have a long-term renewable energy source here at Raby Castle. Lady Barnard and I both felt it was important to pursue this and it would give me a great sense of pride to know that Raby Castle might secure a renewable future for the generations to come,” said Lord Barnard.

Further tests will be taking place over the coming months, with a final report due early in 2024.

For further information on The Rising, please visit: www.raby.co.uk/about-us/development/raby-castle-development/

The North Pennines AONB Partnership is celebrating the completion of its largest and most complex peatland restoration project to date, as part of the Great North Bog initiative.

Raby Estates worked in partnership with the AONB team and a tenant farmer, John Bell, to complete a programme of restoration on Valance Lodge, a landholding in Upper Teesdale. The 96-hectare site was a severely eroded area of blanket bog and, if left unrestored, the damaged peat would have leached carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to further climate change.

Valance Lodge in numbers:

• 1190 tonnes of stone to build 928 stone dams and 1020 coir rolls used to raise the hydrology and slow the flow of rainwater from the high moors
• 5,738 bags of moss-rich nurse crop to protect the peat and kickstart revegetation
• 150 wool rolls used to trial sheep’s wool as a new material for restoration
• Over 15km of eroded peat haggs re-profiled
• Lime, seed and fertiliser spread over 14 hectares of bare peat
• 63,000 cottongrass plug plants and 63,000 sphagnum plug plants, planted by hand
• 90,000 sphagnum clumps harvested, chopped and spread
• The North Pennines AONB Partnership has restored an area of peatland four times the size of Newcastle in the last 17 years.

 This was the AONB Partnership’s first multi-year project, extending over three years, and was the largest ever in scale. The total budget of £1.2million, came from a funding package of multiple funding sources, bringing together public funding with private sector investment.

The North Pennines AONB Partnership is working with other protected landscapes and peat partnerships in the North of England, collaborating on the Great North Bog coalition.

 

Working at scale with multiple sources of support is central to the Great North Bog coalition’s ambitious, landscape-scale approach to upland peatland restoration and conservation. A long-term funding, restoration, and conservation plan across nearly 7000 square kilometres of peatland soils in the Northern Protected Landscapes will store 400million tonnes of carbon and will make a significant contribution to the UK’s climate and carbon sequestration targets.

The Valance Lodge site was the largest area of bare peat on the estate and the restoration work presented logistical challenges for the AONB team, the estate team, and the contractors, JW Bainbridge Contractors Ltd. Most peatland sites are difficult to access with the machinery and materials needed for restoration, but at the size of over 150 football pitches and with challenging terrain, the task was even more difficult. The bulk of the materials were airlifted in by helicopter as much of the site is inaccessible any other way.

Innovative new methods of restoration were used, alongside the tried and tested techniques that the AONB team has successfully used throughout the exposed uplands of the high North Pennines.

 

Tenant farmer, John Bell, was commissioned to make large rolls from his sheep’s wool, which were used to create dams to slow the flow of water from the high moorland site. John produced 150 one-metre rolls using the wool from his own fell sheep, bound with coir netting. The trial was seeking to establish if the sheep’s wool rolls can replace coir as a suitable material for use in peatland restoration. Permission was granted from the Animal and Plant Health Agency to use the wool in the trials providing it was sourced from sheep grazing the same parcel of land that the bare peat is on.

 

For the first time, contractors carrying out reprofiling of severely eroded peat haggs or gullies, borrowed turves from well-vegetated areas immediately adjacent to the bare peat. Once in place, these turves stop erosion immediately.

In another trial, a total of 90,000 Sphagnum moss clumps from healthy donor sites elsewhere on the estate were harvested and chopped, then spread across bare peat areas, followed by a mulch of coarser cut vegetation. Revegetation has begun successfully with this method.

Joe Robinson, our Land Agent , said: “We’re very pleased to have been part of this collaborative approach to restore such a large area of land. It’s also extremely positive that this project is part of the wider, pan-Northern collaboration for peatland restoration in the form of the Great North Bog.”

Kate Cartmell Done, Senior Peatland Field Officer for the North Pennines AONB Partnership, said: “This was an immense project to tackle, on a scale we’ve not worked on before. We’ve learned a lot from this project, and we’ve been able to use this experience and knowledge as we begin work on other larger sites across the North Pennines AONB.

“What has been a great success has been the partnership working, with the Raby Estate team, and the shooting tenant from another part of the estate, as well as John Bell, the farmer.

“Having the multi-year project also meant we were able to develop a long-term, working partnership with our brilliant contractors, JW Bainbridge. We’ve all been able to see the restoration work becoming established over the three years we’ve been on site, which really helps to demonstrate the value of this work for nature recovery and helping to tackle climate change.”

 

Funding for the Valance Lodge restoration came from Defra (including Countryside Stewardship and the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme), Natural England’s Nature for Climate Fund, The National Lottery Heritage Fund via the Tees-Swale programme, the EU LIFE Programme (Pennine PeatLIFE), and private sector support from Morgan Sindall Group.

Graham Edgell, Director of Procurement and Sustainability at Morgan Sindall Group remarked: “We understand the need to play a significant role in reversing habitat loss and improving the condition of our peatlands. Our partnership is an excellent example of a private sector organisation working with the conservation sector to deliver this level of landscape-scale restoration. The results to date have been outstanding and we look forward to further collaboration.”

 

October 15^th– World Anatomy day

In celebration of World Anatomy Day, we’re ‘dissecting’ an interesting book found in Raby’s collections.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andreas Vesalius

World Anatomy Day honours the work of Andreas Vesalius on the anniversary of his death in 1564. Vesalius is considered the founder of human anatomy studies, through the creation of his seven-volume book De Humani Corporis Fabrica (on the fabric of the human body.) The work dissects the human body and considers each layer separately, from bones and cartilages, to ligaments and muscles, and the heart and other organs. The information is accompanied by classical illustrations and backgrounds of Italianate landscapes.

Published in 1543, the work was paired with a companion piece called the Epitome. This contained a brief summary of the anatomical structures in the Fabrica, but more interestingly a series of woodcuts of the dissected human body. This included a sheet which could be cut up and glued together by the reader to make a layered paper manikin (a medical model of the human body.) This helped readers- often medical students- to better understand how the human body was dissected and put together.

The book in Raby’s collection is similar in use and purpose to this Epitome by Vesalius.

A section of the book showing the different layers of the body.

(Raby Collection)

Multi-layered anatomy

Illustrating anatomy using multi-layered flaps became popular during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. These were known as fugitive sheets, and were made up of engraved figures with additional sections as ‘flaps’ on different parts of the body. When lifted, these layers revealed illustrations of organs, blood vessels and bones.

This tradition began with Heinrich Vogtherr, who depicted a seated woman in 1538. A flap on the woman’s belly could be lifted to reveal her internal organs. He used the same woodblocks to create a male print a year later, changing the head and torso. Within the year, printers in other cities had created their own versions which were circulated throughout Europe.

They proved so popular that versions were created in several different languages, making specialist anatomic information more accessible to a wider audience.

The book in the Raby collection, ‘A Survey of the Microcosm, or the Anatomy of the Bodies of Man and Woman,’ is a good example of this, being an English translation of an earlier work. The sub heading explains that the book is ‘useful for all physicians, chyurgeons, statuaries, painters,’ showing its appeal to a wider audience than just those in the medical field.

 

 

Catoptrum Microcosmicum

The author of the original work from Raby’s collection was Johann Remmelin (1583-1632)- Remilinus in our English language version- a German medical doctor and anatomist. His Catoptrum Microcosmicum was first published in 1619 in Latin. It went through several editions in Latin, German, French, Dutch and English.

An original version of Remmelin’s Catoptrum Microcosmicum (1619) digitised by the Osler Library of Medicine.

 

In earlier editions of the work, the background designs surrounding the anatomical figures include symbolic imagery from the Bible and classical literature, such as images of snakes, crucifixes, and a devil in front of the woman’s womb.

Our version- from nearly 90 years later in 1702- is a much simpler design, lacking illustrations and imagery, and missing text on the pillars the two figures are standing on. There are also fewer pages of accompanying text, as it was possibly for a less specialised audience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An example of the illustrated details of the original work (left) compared to our later edition (right)

 

 

 

 

Perhaps having this book in the collection suggests that someone in the Vane family held an interest in anatomy. The wear and tear seen on some of the flaps indicates the book has been well used throughout the years.

6th October 2023

Alan McKerchar, general manager at Raby Castle said: “I am immensely proud of our incredible team and their unwavering dedication each and every day to create a memorable experience for all of our visitors to Raby Castle. Our heartfelt thanks go to our people here at Raby – you all work tremendously hard and your enthusiasm and commitment doesn’t go unnoticed.

“Securing a nomination for the VisitEngland ‘Welcome’ Accolade was an achievement in itself, but to have now been awarded the prestigious accolade is a fantastic achievement for the team.

“2024 is going to be a significant year for us with the opening of The Rising in the spring – a visionary collective of heritage buildings brought to life and two thoughtful new constructions, offering retail, hospitality and event spaces which will make Raby an iconic destination in the area. We all feel we can now move forward with the final stages of the scheme with immense pride as recipients of this fantastic accolade.”

22nd August 2023

Raby Castle has been nominated for the prestigious VisitEngland ‘Welcome’ Accolade after our staff scored 100% in a recent assessment.

Staff across visitor services, catering and retail as well as tour guides and volunteers within the castle were awarded marks out of five for customer care, efficiency and knowledge during an annual VisitEngland Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme assessment.

The team achieved the highest possible score and were praised for their excellent levels of customer service, their professional and warm approach, as well as overall appearance.

VisitEngland’s Accolades are designed to celebrate excellence within the visitor attraction sector and showcase those businesses that go the extra mile to provide a high-quality day out.

Alan McKerchar, the general manager here at Raby Castle said: “Our people are what makes a visit to Raby such a special experience. They are everything to us and I’d like to say a huge thank you to them all for achieving such an incredible result and securing this nomination. To be awarded 100% is no mean feat and is a testament to their hard work, enthusiasm and commitment to providing our visitors such a memorable experience.”

Raby Castle has also retained the VisitEngland accreditation of a quality attraction with a score of 92% – an increase on our previous score, demonstrating the ongoing commitment to continually enhance your visitor experience.

“To have improved our overall score whilst some of the attraction is in temporary facilities during the significant development we are currently undertaking, is something to be really proud of.

“If we can achieve such a great result at this time, I can’t wait to see Raby’s score when The Rising is complete, when we hope to attract new visitors to the area and create outstanding recreation for the local community,” added Alan.

Introduced in 2014, the accolades are available to VisitEngland’s Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme participants across a wide range of tourism experiences in England from museums and galleries, farm attractions, historic houses and gardens to churches, cathedrals and country parks.

Winners of the ‘Welcome’ Visitor Attraction Accolade will be announced later in the year.

 

Raby Membership

With so many exciting adventures to be had at Raby Estate this season, a Raby membership is the best way to enjoy access to everything and anything Raby Estate has to offer**. The Raby membership begins from £15 per year for children from 4 to 12-years-old, £28 per adult, £25.00 per concession, with family passes starting at £80 (2 adults + 3 children), with benefits including admission to Raby Castle, the Deer Park and High Force Waterfall and 10% off at the Yurt Café, Stables Shop and High Force Hotel, in addition to access to the East Garden. A Plotters’ Forest adventure playground extension is available.