Our work outdoors at Attingham Park

Volunteer working in the Orchard at Attingham Park, Shropshire | © National Trust Images/Emma Bedford

There’s more to the Attingham Estate than its house and immediate grounds (Walled Garden, Pleasure Grounds and Deer Park). The entire estate covers around 1,500 hectares. The daily work undertaken at Attingham maintains, conserves and restores every aspect of the outdoor environment for visitors and nature.

The outdoors at Attingham

Attingham’s central estate is 250 hectares of parkland including the Pleasure Grounds, woodlands and Deer Park, which is open to enjoy 364 days of the year. Attingham’s purpose is to provide a space that is full of life and locally loved. The outdoors team work throughout the year to help make this possible.

Ranger laying hedge, pushing twiggy branches down between upright posts, at Newtown National Nature Reserve and Old Town Hall, Isle of Wight — Ranger at work hedge laying | © National Trust Images/Rebecca Bevan

Attingham’s Rangers

The ranger team at Attingham works across the estate to help look after the landscape and wildlife. Alongside their scheduled work, Attingham’s rangers respond to the needs of the environment on the estate and their job is incredibly varied. As the cliché says, ‘no two days are the same’.

Their work includes looking after the SSSI (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) Deer Park and its historic/ancient deer herd, managing trees, woodland, and the miles of hedgerows along Attingham Estate.

Beside ongoing work like hedge laying, woodland management and general care of the estate, Attingham has been home to some special projects in recent years. At Attingham, everything visitors encounter outdoors, has been shaped by our Rangers.

Click below for more information on the National Trust’s work helping nature thrive on the Attingham Estate.

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Gardener at work in Melon House, at Attingham Park, Shropshire — Gardener at work in the Melon House at Attingham Park | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Attingham’s Gardeners

Our gardeners and volunteers continue to restore and cultivate the Walled Garden, encouraging a hive of activity with seasonal fruit, vegetables and flowers grown throughout the year.

The neighbouring Pleasure Grounds and Mile Walk, designed by landscape designer Thomas Leggett in the 1770s, provide a circuit through broadleaf woodland, a collection of cedars, and the Robinia Avenue.

The team has been developing new areas of the Walled Garden, including tending to fruits, vegetables and flowers that are used in the onsite Carriage House Café for seasonal recipes and are sold in the Stables Shop for visitors to take home and enjoy.