Ashridge Estate - Protecting Our Roots

What are we doing to protect the future of Ashridge?

Ashridge Estate is at a pivotal moment in its history and action is needed if we’re to secure its future for generations to come.

The challenges faced at Ashridge Estate are not new. For many years we’ve been exploring ways to help manage the volume of visitors to limit the impact on the estate. However the size, scale and diversity of the landscape along with its ecological and historical significance makes this difficult.

Previous smaller scale projects have focussed mainly on car parking at Monument Drive, but during the Covid pandemic, we saw a significant increase in footfall in all areas of the estate and an acceleration in the rate of impact.

It was clear that a more holistic approach was needed, looking at the whole estate to identify solutions to balance how we can welcome visitors while protecting the landscape in our care.

'Protecting Our Roots'

In September 2023 we held our first public engagement event and introduced 'Protecting Our Roots', our strategic project dedicated to safeguarding the future of Ashridge Estate.

We’re working closely with local authorities, conservation experts and key stakeholders to find solutions to help manage the careful balance of increased visitor numbers with the impact on nature.

We have agreed a number of crucial measures as part of a Mitigation Strategy to help limit future impact to the estate and to help reverse the damage caused by concentrated recreational use over recent years. 

Our long-term vision is to be able to welcome visitors to Ashridge in a way that allows nature and wildlife to thrive. In order to do this we need to make changes to the infrastructure across the estate, allowing visitors to enjoy Ashridge in a new way.

Latest update (May 2024)

We have updated the below sections with the latest project information following our second public engagement event on 25 and 26 May 2024. 

The new project video below also provides the latest update on our plans to protect this special place.

New visitor hubs

At the heart of our vision is an ambition to create three new visitor hubs to help move the weight of visitors away from the most sensitive areas of the estate.

We have been working closely with local planning authorities, statutory bodies, conservation experts and other stakeholders to identify the most suitable locations outside the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) to bring these new hubs to life.

After extensive research and careful consideration we have identified the following three locations for the visitor hubs:

• Land at Hill Farm
• Ward’s Hurst Farm
• Pitstone Quarry

 

All the land in the ownership of the National Trust is highly designated for its history and ecology so selecting suitable locations has been difficult.

The land at Hill Farm and Ward’s Hurst Farm are within the Chiltern’s National Landscape (previously Chiltern’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) but have fewer designations compared to the rest of Ashridge Estate. Both sites sit outside the SAC and provide an opportunity to create facilities for visitors travelling from the north and the south.

Proximity and access to the existing road network was also considered when selecting the locations as well having enough space to accommodate the predicted population growth and subsequent increase in visitor numbers.

Pitstone Quarry is a chalk quarry currently under private ownership which adjoins the estate along its north-west boundary. The active quarry is reaching the end of its operational life and there are aspirations to gift it to the National Trust as a restored recreational area.

The new hubs would be carefully designed to fit into the landscape, balance accessibility and visitor experience while protecting against further damage to the special landscape that is loved by so many.

New car parking arrangements at Ashridge Estate

Car parking is one of the biggest challenges faced at Ashridge Estate and we need to make significant changes to allow us to better manage visitors and reduce damage to the Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Interim car park

We have been working with our partners and stakeholders to develop plans to create a temporary car park on Meadley’s Meadow to move car parking away from Monument Drive.

The grass verges along Monument Drive have traditionally been used for parking, however this area is in the heart of the SAC and a very fragile part of the landscape. The delicate ancient soil and the unique biodiversity within it is becoming eroded putting the ancient trees either side of the drive at risk.

Creating a temporary car park on Meadley’s Meadow is the first step to restoring the grass verges. Meadley’s Meadow is outside of the SAC and is already used at peak periods of the year for overflow parking.

We plan to create a 134 space interim car park to formalise this area and provide suitable parking capacity on the meadow. 75 spaces will be the core car park with an additional 59 overflow spaces for use at peak times. Based on projected visitor demand this should cover 85% of the year.

The temporary car park will be constructed to minimise the impact on the meadow and remain in place until the visitor hubs are created, at which point the temporary car park will be removed and the meadow restored.

We hope to submit a planning application in 2024 and have the interim car park in place for summer 2025.

The below are illustrative designs of what the interim car park might look like. All designs and plans are subject to planning approval.

Parking on the wider estate

Away from Monument Drive, there are 25 smaller informal car parks across the wider estate that have been created over time. Many of these are on the SAC and the delicate and fragile soil in the areas are becoming eroded.

We will continue to monitor car parking across the estate but it is our ambition to close some of these car parks as the new visitor hubs come into operation.

Car parking charges

We will be introducing car park charges at Ashridge Estate and are exploring options on how best to implement the changes as part of the wider car park management strategy.

As a charity we rely on income generated from car parking and other commercial activity to help fund our vital conservation work.

Introducing car parking charges will help generate income to look after this special place and allow us to better manage visitor numbers.

Parking will always be free for National Trust members.

Existing visitor centre area and Monument Drive

Introducing new visitor hubs across the estate will move the weight of visitor pressure away from this special area, making a quieter and restored Monument Drive.

However, it will be some time before these hubs are ready to welcome visitors. In the meantime we need to make improvements to the existing visitor centre and will be undertaking essential conservation to the Bridgewater Monument.

Visitor centre changes

The existing visitor centre on Monument Drive welcomes thousands of visitors each year. The facilities are in need of targeted investment to bring the building up to standard to ensure we can continue to offer a better visitor experience while the new visitor hubs are being constructed.

The proposed changes include new kitchen equipment to enable us to provide reusable cutlery and crockery rather than disposable packaging and essential upgrades to welfare facilities for staff and volunteers.

We have submitted a planning application and hope that work can begin later in 2024.

Conservation of Bridgewater Monument

The Bridgewater Monument has been a striking feature at Ashridge Estate since it was built in 1832 to commemorate the Third Duke of Bridgewater and his contribution to the development of canals in Britain.

The Grade II* listed column is in need of internal and external repairs to ensure its future and so visitors can continue to take in the spectacular views from the top of the 32m platform.

Essential conservation work will take place including pointing with traditional lime mortar, repairs to the internal stone steps, replacing the handrail and improvements to lighting. The exterior will be steam cleaned restoring the natural beauty of the granite stone.

The Monument is likely to be closed to visitors in June ready for the work to start in July and will re-open in spring 2025.

Contact us

If you’d like to get in touch please email the project team.

We would also appreciate it if you could complete our short survey.