Visit to Alton Barnes

Led by the Warden, a group of our students and academic staff visited the College’s land at Alton Barnes in Wiltshire.  

These lands are exceptionally interesting and were gifted to us by our Founder, William of Wykeham. The group was received by one of our tenant farmers, Tim Carson and his brother, David – together with the land agent and their ecology adviser. 

The College has invested in a significant tree planting programme – especially of beech trees at the famous and scenic Woodborough Clump, which we own; and we heard about the work being done around the ancient woodlands and of the sources of the Avon to encourage species diversity. The whole estate is within the north Wessex Downs area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and, in the words of our Emeritus Fellow Jeremy Thomas, contain ecological treasures as important as El Greco or Epstein are to the world of art.

Our land also includes a magnificent White Horse on the Downs, just visible in the background of the group photo below, and a section of Wandsdyke.


A group of people in a field with hills in the background


A panorama featuring a group of people, hills and a clump of trees

 

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