LEI Country
Lount Woodlands
This large block is a mix of existing mature woodlands and new plantings linking them all together. The properties are in several different ownerships and managed by a number of different parties. Many of the older blocks are owned by members of the Blunt family.
We are allowed to base events from Staunton Harold Hall. The hall is the home of John and Jacqueline Blunt and is near the border with Derbyshire and situated at the end of a long driveway off the Melbourne to Ashby Road. The hall, church, arboretum and lake have been a major attraction for many years but these areas are only to be visited with special permission and are not part of our event area. Behind the house is the Ferrers Craft Centre, which evolved from a pottery established here in 1974. There are also nurseries and a large garden centre where we are allowed to park, giving access to the area from the north.
Staunton historically means a stony place and the local stone includes sandstone and limestone, coal and iron, lead and copper and as such has been highly valued for many centuries. Staunton was mentioned in Domesday as being held by Henry de Ferrers (previously Ferraris), remaining in the Ferrers family until its sale in 1954. The first house at Staunton was built by Sir William de Staunton in 1324. In 1423 Margaret, sister and heiress of Thomas de Staunton, married Sir Ralph Shirley, Constable of Melbourne Castle and the adopted Staunton as the family Home.
The house was largely rebuilt by Sir Robert Shirley, 1st Earl of Ferrers. He also built the church in 1653 which adjoins the house. Washington Shirley who became the 5th Earl Ferrers, rebuilt the Hall in the present Palladian style to which was added later the Georgian front as it is today, mellow brick with stone faced, pedimented, centre surmounted by figures of Minerva, Apollo and Ceres. It is a grade 1 listed building. When sold it passed into the ownership of the Leonard Cheshire and then Sue Ryder homes and then eventually to the Blunt family. The family from Melbourne in Derbyshire already owned the arts and crafts centre in the old stables behind the hall and had been associated with the estate for more than 100 years.
The sizeable area we can use is in several ownerships but is largely managed by the Forestry Commission and much is being developed with the assistance of the National Forest Company.
It is restricted at present because of high anti-deer fences but will progressively become an excellent area.
There are several mature copses owned by members of the Blunt family. New Plantation is owned by John and a parcel in the south by Jacqueline (which we have used for small training events for many years) and a further block immediately north of Jacqueline's owned by Simon and used for shooting. Jacqueline's in particular holds many complex landforms including many depressions probably old mining bell pits.
To the south east are areas known as Alistair's Wood and Jaguar Woods managed by Forest Enterprise and it is said that Fords are involved as a means of securing walnut for the dash boards of Jaguars. Further north an area is owned by the National Forest itself possibly supported by the Alliance & Leicester Building Society but again managed by FE.
These later areas are all fresh plantings but now maturing nicely.
Quite apart from the larger blocks a number of small units are included on our map, many planted with the assistance of the National Forest. Lountwood Farm accounts for two blocks, totalling about 8 ha. Called Emily Jane Wood and Keeper's Orchard, the planting is predominantly oak and ash with field maple, rowan, wild cherry and native shrubs. 10% of the site is coniferous planting of Scots Pine, Corsican Pine and Norway spruce to give an early commercial return. The orchard, adjacent to Keepers Cottage, is planted with a variety of native species.
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