National Trust Cotswolds

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National Trust Cotswolds

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We protect a range of special countryside sites & a few historic buildings around Gloucestershire. We welcome feedback – both positive and negative.

Our countryside includes classic Cotswolds landscapes with gentle hillsides ('wolds'), river valleys, grassland pastures, stone walls and majestic woods. We want our page to be a place where people can share how they feel about the National Trust and talk about their experiences in a fun environment. It helps us to learn and grow. These house rules aim to ensure everyone can enjoy themselves while they’re here. We ask you to be nice and polite to one another – you almost always are! - and respect each other’s views and comments. We ask all users to ensure your contributions are civil, polite, tasteful and suitable for all ages. We won’t tolerate disruptive, offensive or abusive behaviour, unlawful or objectionable content. This includes any material which might be defamatory, offensive, infringing, obscene, lewd, pornographic, violent, abusive, insulting, threatening, harassing, discriminatory, blasphemous, indecent or otherwise
unlawful or objectionable. It also includes any material which is aggressive, argumentative or likely to be construed as bullying. No spamming or repetition, please, nor off-topic material in subject-specific threads or areas. Moderation policy
In general, we don’t moderate posts – except on the rare occasion that
someone has used offensive language or made libellous allegations about named or identifiable individuals on our page. We have a duty to protect our staff and volunteers, so while deleting comments is totally out of character for us, our legal position is that any post containing a libellous accusations, should be removed. If an individual continues to post offensive, threatening or
libellous content then we’ll be forced to block that person from the page. We won’t tolerate postings, content, or links that are racist, sexist or homophobic. We also don’t permit linking to or posting any content which endorses illegal activity, or any activities against the values of the National Trust. If you’re concerned that a posting or user content has broken any of our house rules or you’re worried about any comment or content then please send us an email to: [email protected] and let us know.

29/10/2026

Can you help us to spot hedgehogs?

It’s no secret that hedgehog numbers across the UK are in dramatic decline. But you can help us to gather valuable information that can support their conservation both locally and nationally.

We’re looking for volunteers to help review wildlife camera footage from two monitoring sites across Stroud District, using MammalWeb, an online citizen science platform.

You don’t need any previous experience, and you can volunteer whenever it suits you! Check out the attached poster for more information and for details on how to get involved.

28/10/2026

Proof that being out in nature can lift your spirit and put a smile on your face

Here we have two rangers living their best life - enjoying a good fungi foray. Rangers Tim and Ellie were surveying our land on May Hill, in the West of Gloucestershire, and stumbled on some excellent examples of fungi including amethyst deceiver, red brittlegill, shaggy parasol, yellow stagshorn, bracket fungus (potentially hairy curtain crust), and the picturesque fly agaric, which looks plucked from a children's book. 🍄 Proof that a wander in nature can put a smile on your face!

While surveying May Hill in west Gloucestershire, rangers Tim and Ellie stumbled across some incredible fungi hiding among the autumn leaves. From colourful red brittlegills to fiery yellow stagshorn and fairy-tale fly agarics, there was something around every corner. 🌿

It's amazing what you notice when you slow down, look closely, and let nature surprise you.

What's the most interesting thing you've spotted on a woodland walk recently?

27/10/2026

This autumn, our rangers have been busy preparing the land to help give nature a leg up!

Recently, they’ve been thinning existing hedges and removing old fencing to enable them to lay new hedge over the top. This will reduce resource competition and help new hedge whips to get enough light and nutrients giving them a head start in their growing season. Creating a mix of old and new hedges, and scrubby edges of woodland will be a huge help for nature.

But don’t worry, nothing goes to waste here. The thinned brash is used on other parts of the estate to provide habitats for wildlife by creating dead hedges (also known as dry hedges). Nesting birds, hedgehogs, insects, and small mammals will hopefully take up residence in the brash.

26/10/2026

Restoring nature, whatever the weather.

Last week, our staff and volunteer rangers were out at Ebworth in challenging conditions, helping to keep preparations for the tree planting project on track.

While outdoor work isn't always sunny skies and stunning views, the commitment of our teams ensures that important conservation work continues throughout the year.

Thank you to Molly and everyone involved for their hard work and resilience.

All work is subject to risk assessment. Activities may be postponed or cancelled where weather conditions make it unsafe to proceed.

26/10/2026

🌼 627.7kg of native wildflower seed has been harvested across 10 Cotswolds sites this year!

This is a major milestone in our conservation work to help restore and connect habits in the Cotswolds, which has lost over 96% of its species-rich grasslands since the 1930s.

Our volunteers and rangers braved one of the hottest, driest summers on record to gather seed from 34.2 hectares from across the Cotswolds as part of their work for the Stroud Landscape Project, which aims to restore the region’s vanishing grasslands and ancient woodlands.

The seed, including cowslip, knapweed, yellow rattle and orchids, is now being shared with partners, landowners and local residents to sow across the area, creating connected habitats for butterflies, crickets and other wildlife. Even a great green bush cricket has been spotted on previously restored meadows.

Huge thanks to everyone who helped!

25/10/2026

What’s happening here?

Our Sherborne rangers have been busy preparing the land to help nature thrive.

First up is 45Ha of seed drilling! We’ve planted (or drilled!) 960kg of wildflower seed. using a specialised seed drill machine. This creates furrows (channels) at controlled depths, before seeds are dispensed into the soil. They are then covered over and the ground firmed.

Next spring and summer, this space will flourish into a species-rich wildflower meadow providing the foundations of a diverse grassland habitat for every branch of the food web; from insects to birds, mammals and more.

Did you know that wildflower meadows also improve soil health? They enhance the physical structure, prevent erosion, increase organic matter and balance soil fertility through nitrogen fixing plants!

23/10/2026

‼️CANCELLED Trust10 Trail Run‼️

Due to high winds on Friday and Saturday the Trust10 this Sunday is cancelled.

Unfortunately, there is not enough time to check for post-storm damage in order to reopen the route in time for Sunday morning.

Woodchester Park will remain open as usual.

See you at the next one on Sunday 22 November 🤞🏃‍♀️

As always, the Trust10 waymarkers are permanently out so you can come and run or walk the route any day of the month.

21/10/2026

It’s National Apple Day!

Did you know that the Mother Orchard in Ebworth is where we’ve planted all known varieties of Gloucestershire apple? We intend for this to be a place where all these varieties can be preserved for future generations.

But the extreme drought conditions this summer have been a challenge for our newly planted apple trees. So we’re relieved to see the rain! Despite the trees showing some signs of stress, we’ve had several wins as we head into autumn:

Woodchip placed at the base of the trees has helped to retain moisture during the drought

Our amazing volunteers have been helping to water the orchard at Ebworth during the summer months, saving many of the trees

Thorn guards have stood the test against cattle with only a few going wonky after a good scratch!

Some of the newly planted trees have produced apples already this year! These are picked early in the first few years, so the tree focuses its energy on establishing and growing.

We’re now looking ahead to planting the remaining Gloucestershire apples that we’re missing to complete our Mother orchard, and taking this year’s learnings on board.

18/10/2026

🌳 Looking to the past to help shape the future.

Last week, our volunteers and rangers built a protective tree guard ready for the planting of a new English oak at Woodchester Park.

The oak will replace a mature parkland tree lost as part of forestry operations in the decades after the 1950s. While there isn't an exact blueprint showing where every tree once stood, historic aerial photographs help us understand the character of this remarkable landscape and guide decisions about where new trees should be planted.

Restoring historic parkland is rarely about quick fixes. It takes research, patience and careful planning to ensure that today's planting can become tomorrow's veteran trees.

With another nearby replacement already established nearby, this new tree is one small step in the long-term restoration of Woodchester Park's lost landscape, supporting 's historic setting.

A huge thank you to the volunteers who helped build the guard that will protect the young oak as it puts down roots and begins its own story. 💚

Address

Tinkley Gate, Woodchester Park, Tinkley Lane, Nympsfield
Stonehouse
GL103UH

Website

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/days-out/regionsouthwest/cotswolds

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