OCNTSadly, the OCNT Committee has been obliged to put a Resolution to our AGM on 17 March as follows:
“RESOLVED that given the lack of candidates for key Executive Committee positions to run the OCNT fully and effectively, the OCNT shall close completely from 30 April 2026 and that the current Executive Committee shall continue in role until the OCNT has closed.”
The AGM will be held at 10.45am on 17 March 2026 in the Auditorium at Magdalen College. All Members will be welcome to attend.
Wimpole is a working estate set in acres of parkland. It has an impressive 17th-century mansion, walled kitchen garden, parterre, pleasure grounds and a rare-breeds farm, including Shire horses. There was a lot to look at, and pleasant walks in the grounds.
In the house there are lavish Georgian interiors (including Soane’s Yellow Drawing Room) intimate family rooms, the large library and ‘life below stairs’ in the basement.
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.
We donate funds to local National Trust properties at the end of each year, to support projects and needs. At the end of 2024 the Oxford Centre of the National Trust donated a total of £6,000 to the National Trust for projects at local properties, including £2,000 to Nuffield Place for repairs to BUD, Lady Nuffield’s car, a 1946 Wolsey Eight, kept in the garage next to the house.
We also donated £1,500 to Cliveden for redevelopment of the Long Garden, including laying a central walkway of flagstones, replanting the herbacious beds and replacing the box hedges with young yew plants.
Our other donations went to Basildon Park for Conservation Blinds, Greys Court for workshop equipment, a further £335 to Cliveden for an All Terrain Wheelchair and £615 to Hughenden for work in their Parkland.
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.
