Donations to local National Trust properties
We donate funds to local National Trust properties at the end of each year, to support projects and needs. At the end of 2023 we donated £1,000 to Nuffield Place for picnic benches, £500 to Chastleton for park fencing, and £500 to Coleshill Estate for tree planting equipment.
To thank us, OCNT Committee was invited to send representatives to a tea party in September for local Supporter Groups who had donated to the West Oxfordshire Portfolio, namely Chastleton and Coleshill. It was held at Chastleton, and we were able to inspect the new railings that we had paid for around the parkland. We were also invited to view the newly replanted gardens around the house, with a guided tour by Head Gardener Rosy Sutton. Afterwards we were served scones with jam and cream in the Brewhouse! Many thanks to our host General Manager Christian Walker.
In December 2020 we gave a donation to Cliveden towards the renovation of their Water Gardens. Over the past 3 years the lakes were drained and sludge removed while the carp (and the heron!) had a holiday elsewhere, the concrete and linings replaced, the fountains mended, the edges renewed and borders cleared for replanting. The lakes have now been refilled and look wonderful! A small gathering of local Supporter Group representatives were shown how our donations had been spent. Do go and admire the splendidly spruced up Water Gardens at Cliveden! We were the guests of General Manager Robert Miles, and had an extensive tour of parts of Cliveden gardens with commentary by Head Gardener Anthony Mason. (The coffee and walnut cake served in the Conservatory Café afterwards was excellent!)
Memories of Summer and Autumn Visits
Over the summer and autumn we enjoyed three visits. While the day at Baddesley Clinton was unfortunately rather damp, there was fine weather for the trip to Beaulieu through the lovely New Forest where the ponies were out in force, and there was warm sunshine for the visit to see the spectacular autumn colours at Sheffield Park and enjoy walks around the lakes.
Baddesley Clinton
Beaulieu Motor Museum
Members boarding the vintage bus at Beaulieu
Sheffield Park