Our team spotted some lichens while monitoring Northchurch Common this week.
Lichens are a very interesting find, because they're made up of two or more different organisms (fungi & algae and/or cyanobacteria) that exist in a mutually beneficial relationship called symbiosis.
Happily, lichens are non-parasitic and don’t harm any plants they grow on. In fact, they’re useful to other wildlife, offering nesting material for birds, and food and shelter to lots of invertebrates, which in turn feed other creatures.
Woods rich in lichens support more wildlife than any other!
Image copyright: National Trust
When our Countryside team travels across the Estate, there's always plenty of furry friends around ready to say hello! 🐮
Image copyright: National Trust
Pitstone Windmill is officially open to the public for the first time in 2026!
Bookings will be available for visits every Friday from now until 18th September, and we're celebrating National Mills Weekend by also being open for bookings this weekend (9th & 10th May) 🎉
Visitors looking to go inside the windmill need to pre-book these guided experiences. Alternatively, if you're just looking to see the outside of the Windmill, you can visit at any time, and bookings aren't required.
For more information and to book your visit, go to our website.
Image description: Pitstone Windmill in the distance on a sunny day, with the surrounding fields in shot. (Credit: Hugh Mothersole / National Trust Images)
If you’ve visited Ashridge Estate recently, you may have noticed a new addition...
This year marks 100 years since the National Trust took over the Ashridge Estate in 1926.
As part of this anniversary, we’ve added an installation on Monument Green, using repurposed wood from a tree that naturally fell on the Estate. It explains some of the Estate’s history and why it remains such an important area.
If you visit Ashridge Estate over the coming months, please feel free to take the time to read the boards and learn more.
Video description: 10 boards stand in a semi-circle in front of the Bridgewater Monument, before the video pans down to a sign with the Ashridge 100 logo (credit: National Trust)
Don't miss a special story time location this Summer 📖
Pitsone Windmill opens for the 2026 season from this Friday (8th May). If you're planning on going with your little ones, why not also stick around for a special story time outside the Windmill?
Hosted by one of our volunteers, visit on the following dates (between 2pm - 4pm) for this special activity:
📅 8th May
📅 15th May
📅 29th May
📅 5th June
📅 12th June
📅 3rd July
Full details on our website!
Image description: a volunteer site on a stool outside of Pitstone Windmill and reads a book to a child and their parent. (Credit: National Trust)
Bookings to visit Pitstone Windmill this year are now open!
One of the oldest post mills in Britain, visitors can explore both the inner and outer workings of the windmill, while also taking in spectacular views of the surrounding Chilterns countryside.
Slots are available for visits every Friday, from 8th May until 18th September 2026, with additional bookings available on Sat 9th and Sun 10th May for National Mills Weekend.
Visitors looking to go inside the windmill need to pre-book these guided experiences. Alternatively, if you're just looking to see the outside of the Windmill, you can visit at any time, and bookings aren't required.
For more information and to book your visit, visit our website.
Image credit: Maria Nerdrum / National Trust
Bluebell season is still in full swing (as these images taken this week show!) 💜
If you're planning on visiting Ashridge this weekend, we'd really appreciate it if you could keep the following guidance in mind:
If you're visiting Dockey Wood, we recommend parking at our Visitor Centre and following the 2.5km waymarked walk from the Bridgewater Monument, instead of the small car park at Dockey Wood.
The exception to this is if you have mobility issues, pushing a buggy or using a wheelchair, as the waymarked walk from the Monument includes some steep sections and unsurfaced paths. If these exceptions don't apply to you, please consider using the waymarked walking route to make access easier for all visitors.
If you do try to park at Dockey Wood and find that the car park is full, please do not park on the road, as this creates traffic and road safety issues. Instead, an alternative option is Ling Ride car park, which is just off Beacon Road. The What3Words location for this is: ///impressed.onion.caring
Image descriptions: 1 - Dockey Wood at sunset, with light coming through the trees. 2 - a close-up of some bluebells at Dockey Wood. 3 - the walking path at Dockey Wood lined with bluebells and trees.
Photo credit: Bright Tie Photography
If you're visiting Dockey Wood to see the bluebells over the next few weeks, we recommend parking at the Visitor Centre on Monument Drive and walking along the waymarked route from the Bridgewater Monument to Dockey Wood. The route is approximately 2.5 km long and will take the average person 40 minutes.
There is also a small car park at Dockey Wood, but it has only around 40 spaces, so during busy periods you may be turned away. If this happens to you, please do not park along the roadside, as this can be dangerous and block access for emergency vehicles.
We do, however, recommend the Dockey Wood car park to anyone with mobility issues or who will be pushing a buggy or using a wheelchair, as the waymarked walk from the Monument includes some steep sections and unsurfaced paths.
Bluebell season is approaching ⏳
Bluebells are important pollinators for insects, but they are fragile and can take years to recover from damage; even one step on the leaves can affect the plant for years to come. With this in mind, we'd appreciate any visitors keeping the following guidance in mind:
🌱 Follow directional signage at all times
🌱 Stick to main paths and don't cross fences or barriers
🌱 Don't allow dogs or children to run into the bluebells
🌱 Take photos from paths or designated photography spots only
🌱 Don't pick bluebell flowers - bluebells are protected by law
We expect the flowering window to be from mid-April to early May. As bluebell season is usually busy here at Ashridge, we've taken steps to manage visitor flow and look after these precious flowers to ensure they continue to thrive in the future. As part of this, since 2016, charges have been in place to view the bluebells at Dockey Wood (only on peak weekends).
If you plan on visiting us this year, please note that charges (£3.50 for adults, £1.50 for children, members go free) will apply between 10am and 4pm on the following peak weekends: 18 & 19 April, 25 & 26 April, and 2, 3 & 4 May. Please note that weekday visits are free.
If you do visit on these peak weekends, we advise visitors to have any membership cards at the ready and consider bringing cash to help save time on arrival.
Finally, if you’re planning on visiting the bluebells at Dockey Wood, then the best way is to park at Monument Drive and walk along the 1.6-mile waymarked route. There is limited parking at Dockey Wood, and you may be turned away during busy periods.
Image description: bluebells flowering next to the base of a tree trunk (image by James Dobson)
Do you have any children's books that you can donate?
If the answer's yes, please consider donating them to the second-hand book shop here at Ashridge Estate 📚
With the Easter bank holiday weekend fast approaching, we'd particularly appreciate donations for books suitable for ages 0 - 16.
Any money raised from book sales goes towards caring for Ashridge Estate, so thank you in advance for any donations you can make!
Image description: collection of children's books in our second-hand bookshop (image by NT photographer)
