Search "Aston Brickyard Plantation" on Google Maps for our exact location. On the northern edge of Aston on Trent village (South Derbyshire) lies a nine acre plantation comprising woodland and grassland areas. The land was originally quarried in the 17th and 18th century as a major source for the extraction of plaster (Gypsum) for flooring and white-washing. Clay on site was also used for small-scale brick making until 1930 when the Derby Brick Company commercialised production. The site was abandoned in the 1960s and some of the clay pits were used for landfill and allowed to return to nature. In the 1970s villagers planted many trees including ash, hazel, oak, maple, sycamore, rowan and plane but until recently no routine maintenance was carried out. The site is owned by Derbyshire County Council and is open to the public, apart from a separate area is which leased to a local field archery club. The Friends of Aston Brickyard Plantation are a group of volunteers who are working to maintain, conserve and improve the site for the benefit of flora, fauna and the village community. The DCC Countryside Service Community Engagement Officer works closely with us in a support and advisory role, offering training and practical assistance on a regular basis. We meet monthly to work together on the tasks laid out in a ten year management plan. In summer we work mostly on the grassland areas, digging out brambles and scrub which is encroaching onto the meadow, mowing and raking the grass, harrowing and sowing wild flower seeds to increase the diversity, and planting species specific food plants for butterflies and birds – eg alder buckthorn for brimstone butterflies and teasels for goldfinches. In winter we work on the woodland, thinning the ash which has so successfully taken over large parts of the wood, using the cut wood to build habitat piles – homes and shelter for smaller mammals and invertebrates, and planting new trees to ensure that we have a more varied tree canopy. Come and join us or just enjoy a walk through the plantation. Details of our regular working parties can be found on the Events page. We welcome your photos, questions or feedback either by Facebook message or by email at [email protected]. Our location can be found by searching "Aston Brickyard Plantation" on Google Maps, What 3 Words "Wing.Sideburns.Servers" or Grid reference SK414303.
