July 2013

31st July 2013

– Wet nearly all day.

In addition to some flooding at Patrick Bridge, the water levels on all the pools has risen with the recent rain and indeed in the last few days of July, nearly four inches has fallen locally.

As a result, waders are not always so easy to see. Nevertheless, 140 Lapwing and two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers showed reasonably well and a Green Sandpiper was heard calling on Railway Pool. There were 17 Teal on Railway Pool, the two drake

Pochard

remained and there were five Common Tern juveniles. together with an as yet unfledged chick on Car Park Pool.

30th July 2013

– Sunshine, showers, south-westerly wind.

The breeding Redshanks disappeared at the beginning of July and so one today was presumably a south-bound migrant. Other waders included Little Ringed Plover, the long-staying Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and four Oystercatchers. An adult and three juvenile Whitethroats joined a Garden Warbler from the causeway, with 14 Common Ternscoming and going from Railway Pool and there were also two drake Pochards.

In the evening, two further Little Ringed Plovers dropped in, but headed off high to the south. There were eight Teal, three Shoveler and three Migrant Hawkers with furtherWhitethroats showing well on the railway embankment.

29th July 2013

– Sunshine, showers, south-westerly wind.

The Wood Sandpiper remained on Railway Pool along with two Little Ringed Plovers and there were three Teal there.

Four Linnets were by Railway Hide and a family party of two adults and four recently fledgedGreenfinches were by Oak Hide.

28th July 2013

– Heavy overnight rain, sunny intervals, occasional showers, brisk south westerly

Although again elusive, the Wood Sandpiper remained around the margins of Railway Pool along with two adult Little Ringed Plovers and a migrant juvenile.

There were still at least 23 Tufted broods, including a brood of 12 on Railway Pool, comprising six Tufted and six Gadwall ducklings. Other wildfowl included two Pochard, 18 Teal and aShoveler.

Overnight rain had caused some flooding at Patrick Bridge and amongst the regular Black-heads and a scattering of Lesser Black-backs there was a single Herring Gull as well.

At least one Marbled White showed well by Railway Hide and there were lots more Peacocks(at least 20) on the wing together with three Red Admirals and four Small Tortoiseshells, but it was too windy for the Purple Hairstreaks.

27 July 2013

– Sunny intervals, slowly clouding up and rain from about 6pm. South westerly

The occasionally elusive Wood Sandpiper remained on Railway Pool with two adult and two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers and a Common Sandpiper on Car Park Pool. At least sixOystercatchers were both vocal and mobile across the Reserve.

An adult Peregrine with prey flew high south west at about 10.30am and young Great Spotted Woodpeckers were on the Old Road and an adult and a young Green Woodpeckerflew from Railway Pool to Packhorse Bridge. A Kingfisher was hunting from various perches by Patrick Bridge.

Graham and Dave’s counts today were: three adult Great Crested Grebe and three juveniles (still two partly grown young on Car Park Pool but only one of the fledged young now remains on Railway Pool, the other one having departed), only one adult Little Grebe and one fledged juvenile, four Cormorants, five Herons, two Mute Swans and a single cygnet, the Black Swan, four Teal, 62 Mallard and three juveniles, 18 Gadwall and seven broods comprising 46 ducklings, two Pochard, 31 Tufted and 23 broods of 119 ducklings, six adultOystercatchers and one juvenile on Car Park Pool, 132 Lapwing, 62 Coot, four Moorhen, 15 Black-headed Gulls, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, ten Common Terns, 71 Greylagsand 12 Canadas.

Over the Reserve in various locations were plenty of Martins and at least four Swifts, whilst on the insect front, the first Small Copper was on the wing around Railway Hide along withMarbled White, Holly Blue, Common Blue and lots of Ringlets, Meadow Browns andGate Keepers. Around the Dragonfly Pond, at least two Emerald Damselflies showed well together with the year’s first Southern Hawker and on the Old Road the first Purple Hairstreaks were found in the oaks just north of the Car Park gates.

26 July 2013

– Sunny, warm, still.

The only records in the log were of Green and Common Sandpiper and two Little Ringed Plovers.

25th July 2013

– Some overnight rain, mostly overcast, some drizzle.

Either Tuesday’s Wood Sandpiper or another one was on Car Park Pool this morning, along with an adult Little Ringed Plover and there were further Little Ringed Plovers, both juveniles, on Railway Pool. 20 to 30 Sand Martins were feeding over the pools in drizzly conditions.

24th July 2013

– Humid, south-westerly wind, mostly sunny.

There were two Common Sandpipers and a Green Sandpiper on Car Park Pool and twoLittle Ringed Plovers on Railway Pool this morning. A pair of Oystercatchers on Car Park Pool seemed interested in forming a scrape in the centre of the islands which seems very late, if that is indeed what they were doing.

The Packington Estate staff helped remove the Ragwort from around Railway Pool and also from the islands and some strimming was undertaken to try and improve the view looking from Oak Hide out onto the islands. Two further Tufted Duck nests were discovered, with eggs, which were left with plenty of vegetation around them and both females went back onto the eggs. Assuming these hatch then, along with a new brood on the Reedbed Pool, that will make at least 22 broods, a record for the Reserve.

At about 10.15 am, a Corn Bunting flew over the entrance gate cottages heading low, south-west. This is the first since November / December 2009.

23rd July 2013

– Thunder storms prior to and after dawn. Overcast and humid.

The stormy weather was conducive to some albeit relatively limited wader passage today. AWood Sandpiper showed well from early morning on the Car Park Pool islands and in one of the heavy downpours, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover dropped in. A Whimbrel flew through at 9.30 as well.

A Common Sandpiper fed on the margins of Car Park Pool early on but disappeared, probably to the river, and there was an adult Little Ringed Plover on Railway Pool. Ten Teal and a female Pochard were also on Railway Pool.

The Wood Sandpiper remained until at least 5.15 but could not be found in the early evening. Migration did continue, however, with a second juvenile Little Ringed Plover joining the 1st. There were also 16 Teal and four Pochard and at least three further unfledged Common Tern chicks were seen, two on Car Park Pool and one on Railway Pool

Lots of Toadlets were seen around the car park in the late afternoon as well.

22nd July 2013

– Initially overcast, warm and sunny later.

An impressive 19 broods of Tufted Duck with over 120 ducklings were counted across the Reserve this morning with eight Teal, two Shoveler and three Pochard making up the other more noteworthy wildfowl. Waders were limited to two adult Little Ringed Plovers and aCommon Sandpiper and both pairs of Great Crested Grebes still had young.

Towards Patrick Farm there were a pair of Bullfinches feeding one fledged juvenile with another Bullfinch and two Treecreepers along the concrete road. The usual range of larger dragonflies were on show at lunchtime, include Four-spotted Chasers, Common Darter,Black-tailed Skimmers and Brown Hawkers.

Six Pied Wagtails were feeding around the margins of Railway Pool which appear to be the result of a single successful brood.

A Peregrine flew over at dusk, whilst another Starling roost was forming.

21st July 2013

– Mostly cloudy, occasional sunny intervals in the afternoon, light easterly wind.

Four Little Ringed Plovers (all adults) and singles of Green and Common Sandpipers were the slightly less usual waders. A Sparrowhawk with prey went over and there were again plenty of butterflies and dragonflies with seven Commas and two Marbled Whites, the most notable.

20th July 2013

– North-easterly wind, cloud, later more sunny intervals.

The first Essex Skipper of the year was found with ten Small Skippers along the concrete road, the species’ usual location. There were more Common Darters of late, as well.

Migrant waders were again limited to just singles of Green and Common Sandpiper, with just “resident” waders in two Little Ringed Plovers, eight Oystercatchers and 97 Lapwing.

An adult and four juvenile Pied Wagtails were present on Railway Pool and other counts today were six Great Crested Grebes (four adults and two juveniles on Car Park and just a single on Railway Pool), seven Little Grebes and two juveniles, six Herons, seven Cormorants, twoMute Swans and two cygnets, the Black Swan, 43 Greylags, 12 Canadas, three Teal, 32Mallard and a brood of six, ten Gadwall and seven broods, four Pochard, 37 Tufteds and at least 14 broods, 61 Coot, five Moorhen, two Lesser Black-backs, 75 Black-headed Gulls(50 adults and 25 juveniles), 23 Common Terns (14 adults and nine juveniles); and, in the evening, a substantial Starling roost took place in the Reedbed, with at least 1500 birds present. Swifts and Martins were also feeding over the pools. Over 50 Swifts were counted, 15 to 20 House Martins feeding over Siden Hill Wood and at least 30 Sand Martins over the pools themselves.

19th July 2013

– Remaining hot with a north-easterly wind.

15 broods of Tufted Duck were counted today, with at least ten on Car Park Pool and five on Railway Pool. There were still at least six Gadwall broods on Car Park Pool as well. ThreeShoveler, ten Teal and three Pochard made up the other wildfowl but migrant waders were limited to just two Common Sandpipers.

18th July 2013

– Still hot.

A Black-tailed Godwit was a new arrival this morning on Railway Pool, with the odd Swiftand two Swallows moving south. Both Common Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover were on Railway Pool with another Little Ringed Plover and a Green Sandpiper on Car Park Pool.

There was still, surprisingly, plenty of warbler song on the Old Road with Blackcap,Whitethroat and Chiffchaff all in good song. At least four Skylarks were interacting, aerially, over the Tip field, lots of insects and butterflies were enjoying both of the flowering game crops.

There were five Marbled White butterflies between Railway and Oak Hide.

17th July 2013

– Hot

No records.

16 th July 2013

– Sunny, hot with a light variable wind.

Waders this morning included singles of Green and Common Sandpiper, two Little Ringed Plovers, three Redshanks and three Oystercatchers, and a Kingfisher again visitied the site.

In the evening, six Gadwall, eight Tufted and two Mallard broods were counted and other wildfowl counted were eight Teal, two Pochard and four Shoveler.

15th July 2013

– Hot

New birds are at a premium with the hot weather remaining. Nevertheless, there was a new record (as far as we are aware), for the Reserve today but of an insect. A HummingbirdHawk-moth was feeding on the tall Umbellifers on the causeway, south side, adjoining the central stream. There are also lots of butterflies in all the areas of grassland and at least threeMarbled Whites showed well by Railway Hide.

Eight attended the work party and much was achieved – many thanks to those who attended. Aside from the regular job of pulling Ragwort at this time of year, views from Railway, Oak and River Hides were all improved, together with that from the north causeway screen.

14th July 2013

– Hot, light north-easterly wind.

Pochard numbers increased slightly to seven and a Ringed Plover was new in. MarbledWhite numbers increased to five but otherwise much the same with plentiful Butterflies, Dragonflies and Damselflies on the wing, with the Dragonfly Pool being the best bet.

13th July 2013

– With temperatures rapidly rising to well over 20 degrees, it was not surprising that there were plenty of Butterflies and Dragonflies on the wing and the highlight was the firstMarbled Whites of the year, with at least three in the area of grassland just before Railway Hide.

Literally hundreds of Ringlets and many tens of Meadow Browns were spread across the Reserve. The first Gatekeepers of the year were also on the wing with at least ten scattered across the Reserve. A Comma on the Old Road was noteworthy in that they have been relatively scarce so far this year.

On the birding front there was not a great deal of change with singles of Common Sandpiperand Little Ringed Plover, five adult Oystercatchers and four juveniles, one adult Redshankand the long fledged juvenile, 84 Lapwing and at least 21 fledged Common Tern juveniles along with 14 adults were the most noteworthy items.

Other counts were as follows: four Herons, eight Cormorants, four adult Great Crested Grebes and the two fledged juveniles on Car Park Pool and two smaller ones on Railway Pool, eight adult Little Grebes and two juveniles still on Car Park Pools, two adult Mute Swans and two cygnets, the Black Swan, 86 Greylags, 13 Canadas, a drake Wigeon, five Shoveler, 14Teal and 74 Gadwall and now eight broods, 33 Mallard and one brood, four Pochard, 21Tufted and now six broods, 52 Coots, six Moorhen, 28 adult Black-headed Gulls and over 100 juveniles (with seemingly some dispersion having taken place) and one Lesser Black-back.

12th July 2013

– Initially overcast, clearing back again to the north-east, becoming sunny and warm again.

There was another group of Swifts over the car park and central streamline this morning, with numbers totalling approximately 40 along with about 30 Sand Martins. How many of these are migrants and how many are local birds is difficult to tell, but at least one of the Swifts had a full crop suggesting it was feeding up before taking food back to youngsters.

A Kingfisher flew low, north across Railway Pool with a fish in its mouth and on the wader front there was one, possibly two Common Sandpipers, an adult Little Ringed Plover, an adult Redshank, four adult Oystercatchers and two young in front of Car Park Pool. The pair of Great Crested Grebes still have two youngsters on Railway Pool and at least one youngDabchick was visible on Car Park Pool.

Warblers were still very much in song this morning with Sedge Warblers to the fore. At least three were in song around the north causeway screen, with another in front of Oak Hide and a fifty opposite Oak Hide on the far bank.

11th July 2013

– Light north-easterly wind, cloud slowly burning back, north-easterly wind, mostly sunny.

13 Swifts arrived from the north at 8.15 and quickly moved on and within 10 minutes there was a large flock of Swifts and hirundines over Car Park Pool and the central streamline, with birds arriving all the time. At any one time there were 80 to 90 Swifts, 20 Sand Martins and at least five House Martins.

On Car Park Pool, Teal numbers had increased to 13 together with three Pochard and aWigeon.

On the Old Road a Nuthatch called just north of the car park where a Whitethroat was also in song. Both Blackcap and Goldfinch were in song by the entrance gate cottages and between the cottages and the car park gates there were at least two Chiffchaffs, a family party of Blue Tits, Whitethroat and a family party of Greenfinches.

In the afternoon, a Green Sandpiper was on the far shore of Car Park Pool and there were two Little Ringed Plovers by Oak Hide.

10th July 2013

– Warm and sunny to begin with, progressively clouding over, light north-easterly wind.

The more unusual birds today included a Little Egret from River Hide on Railway Pool which flew off about 10.30 and also a Common Sandpiper viewable from Oak Hide. There were singles of Wigeon, Pochard, Shoveler and Redshank and at least five Oystercatchers.

9th July 2013

– Sunny, hot, north-easterly wind.

A Wood Sandpiper found by D and P Crump and Paul Casey in the afternoon lingered into the evening and showed well but periodically on the gravel bar island from River Hide. The vegetation on this bar has grown up in the centre and because of the tall Reedmace in front of Oak Hide can only be seen on one side from River Hide.

There was also a Green Sandpiper on Car Park Pool but that was not visible in the evening. There were still two adults feeding three juvenile Oystercatchers around Car Park Pool and at least one Little Ringed Plover.

Four Gadwall broods were in evidence on Car Park Pool with at least 27 juveniles and a youngTufted with them. Three broods of Tufted included one large brood of 18 with four Gadwallducklings with them (in both the Tufted and Gadwall case presumably incidents of egg dumping in the nest of the other species), another brood of four on Car Park Pool and a brood of six on Railway Pool. There were at least five Shoveler, five Teal and a single Pochard and by 8.30 at least 700 Starlings were congregating in the trees behind Oak Hide before going towards the Reedbed to roost. A male Sparrowhawk ambushed them as they moved towards the Reedbed, flying out from the crop field oaks.

12 adult Common Terns and 23 juvenile Common Terns were also counted, an excellent return considering the Terns have been pushed to the lower ground by the rapidly enlargingBlack-headed Gull colony. The Terms will of course be at risk in summers with excess flooding.

The two fledged Great Crested Grebes were feeding on their own, well away from their parents, and appear now to be independent. In the meantime, the two younger ones on Railway Pool were still being carried on the back of one of the adults.

Last, but not least, there was a Kingfisher on the Reedbed Pool in the morning.

A Garden Warbler was in good song again by the south-west pond, there were a handful ofSand Martins about, one Swift went over but there was no sign of any Wigeon this evening.

8th July 2013

– Sunny, hot, light north-easterly wind.

A flyover Hobby was the most noteworthy bird today but Wigeon numbers had increased to three. There were still four Teal and two drake Pochard.

7th July 2013

– Sunny, warm, light north-westerly wind.

The eclipse drake Wigeon had moved to Car Park Pool today, there were still two Pochardand two Shoveler with Teal numbers increasing to seven. On the Old Road there wasTreecreeper and three Bullfinches with at least five juvenile Swallows on the wing at Patrick Farm.

A Nuthatch was heard and seen on the central streamline and as temperatures reached 28 degrees there were, not surprisingly, plenty of Dragonflies, Damselflies and Butterflies on the wing, including two Emperors, at least ten Four-spotted Chasers, 50 Black-tailed Skimmers and lots of Damselflies, two Brown Hawkers, three Common Darters, sevenRed-eyed Damselflies, one Banded Demoiselle, over 100 Ringlets, 50 Meadow Browns, one Large Skipper and three Small Skippers, two Large Whites, a Small White, two Red Admirals and a Speckled Wood.

6th July 2013

– Sunny, light southerly wind

An early returning drake Wigeon was the only new arrival today and the bird spent much of the day on the Reedbed Pool. A Hobby made an infrequent visit to the Reserve and spent part of the early morning perched in Siden Hill Wood. Its presence was most certainly due to the presence of more Odonata in the warm weather and new for the year were Red-eyed Damselfly, Emerald Damselfly, Common Darter and Brown Hawker, with a good supporting cast of plenty of Azure Damselflies, Blue-tailed, Common Blue, two Emperors, over 24 Spotted Chasers and ten Black-tailed Skimmers.

There were also plenty of butterflies with over 25 Meadow Browns, 40 Ringlets, two Small-tortoiseshells, two Large White, two Speckled Wood and three Large Skippers.

There is a dead Mole on the path between Oak and Railway Hides.

Other counts today included six Great Crested Grebes and their now well grown young on Car Park Pool and still two chicks on Railway Pool, three Dabchicks and still two juveniles on Car Park Pool, three Herons, seven Cormorants, four Mutes and two cygnets on Railway Pool, a Black Swan, 37 Greylags, a Farmyard Goose, 13 Canada, 51 Mallard and a brood of three on Car Park Pool, 18 Gadwall and broods of ten and four on Car Park Pool, 22Tufteds and two broods of five and 18 on Railway Pool plus four Gadwall, three Shoveler and two Teal, four Pochard, 53 Coot, five Moorhen, two Redshank and a fledged juvenile which has now moved to Railway Pool, seven Oystercatchers and five fledged juveniles and three still being fed on Car Park Pool, two Little Ringed Plovers, 55 Lapwings and at least six juveniles, three Lesser Black-backs, 80 Black-headed Gulls and 214 juveniles, five adultCommon Terns and at least 12 to 15 fledged juveniles and six more being fed.

The pair of Green Woodpeckers towards Railway Hide were pretty active and there was a male Bullfinch below Oak Hide in the evening.

5th July 2013

No records in the log.

4th July 2013

– Sunny intervals, humid, warm westerly wind.

Two Little Egrets were new arrivals this morning and were on the shore in front of Oak Hide. They both appeared to be adults although only one had full neck plumes. The Garden Warblerwas still in song, this time by the south-west pond, where there was also a vocal Green Woodpecker.

The Gadwall with five ducklings on Car Park Pool had adopted a Tufted as well, and there were three half grown Gadwall youngsters on Railway Pool, along with two drake Shovelersalso on Railway Pool.

3rd July 2013

– Rain clearing early on, sunny intervals, south-westerly wind.

The Garden Warbler by the back gate was back in song and ranging along the full length of the back gate copse. There was a brood of six new Gadwall ducklings on Car Park Pool and two young Dabchicks were being fed by their adults in the bay to the north of the causeway.

2nd July 2013

– Mostly overcast, westerly wind, rain late afternoon.

Two Little Ringed Plovers and one Ringed Plover were seen on Railway Pool and 30 Sand Martins and three House Martins fed over the pools. In the evening, the following were noted: a pair of Shoveler, a drake Teal, two juvenile Oystercatchers in front of Car Park Hide along with a juvenile and now fledged Redshank, four broods of Gadwall, a new brood of Mallard, ten adult and eight juvenile Common Terns and 100 Sand Martins fed over the pools.

A first summer Yellow-legged Gull also flew over.

1st July 2013

– Sunny intervals, even after allowing for the black smoke from the fire in Smethwick.

An adult Whitethroat was feeding two young on the railway embankment where there was also a Lesser Whitethroat again. A Peregrine was seen briefly from Oak Hide and a Garden Warbler was in good song by the car park.

Slide 1

Packington Estate ESG Policy 2025

Developing and maintaining an ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy for a country estate involves considering various unique contexts, including historical aspects as well as the cultural significance of such properties, and their custodianship; past, present, and future, to preserve these locations for future generations to come, across all the three aspects of such an initiative.

Packington Estate has four overarching pillars that drive the spirit and principles of the Estate and provide the building blocks for all the Estate’s businesses, operations and projects. These four pillars are Stewardship, Sustainability, Wellbeing and Restoration.

The Estate is in a transitional phase moving away from more traditional, methodologies of Estate management to a progressive strategy, in line with current business practises and procedures. Much of the Estate is undergoing such an evolution to more sustainable operations. This covers every venture and project, from Estate stewardship all the way through to the Board Room.

Packington’s ESG policy is bolstered by its actionable and tangible achievements, framed and guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (the SDGs or Global Goals). We all know that big global challenges need bold action, from every corner. This initiative was unanimously voted into being by all of the 197 member Nations of the United Nations, and this was formalised with an Act named Resolution Agenda 30, to build a greener, fairer, better world by 2030 and everyone has a role to play in helping achieve these Global Goals. Packington Estate is utilising the SDGs across the Estate as a guideline to set out its pathway for all future prospects and developing over time, an equitable, sustainable, biodiverse, conscientious, and healthy future.

Slide 2

Environmental (E) Considerations

Environmentally-friendly Land Management: Packington has implemented sustainable land management practices that prioritise biodiversity, soil health, and water conservation. This shall involve rewilding certain areas, planting native vegetation, and avoiding the use of harmful pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers on its Regenerative Farms and within the Gardens, with the aim of reducing the use of artificial products across the wider Estate.

1) Renewable Energy Integration: Explore the potential opportunities for on-site renewable energy sources, such as heat source, solar power, biomass and wind turbines. This can reduce the Estate's carbon footprint and enhance energy resilience. The opportunity for the establishment of an Energy Park within the Estate is currently being explored.

2) Historical Preservation: Develop a plan for the maintenance, conservation and sympathetic restoration of the historical buildings, such as the Hall, Church and Stables, as well as landscapes, combining modern, environmental practices with preservation efforts to ensure the legacy and longevity of the Estate.

3) Tree Planting Schemes: Packington is committed to soil and tree health, and as such has an extensive tree planting scheme planned across the Estate, with up to 10,000 trees currently planned for planting.

Slide 3

Social (S) Initiatives

1) Community Engagement: The Estate is fostering relationships with local communities by providing access to parts of the Estate to the use and organising community events such as craft workshops, carol services, fun runs, dog trials and open garden days. Alongside this, the Estate has developed an approved suppliers’ process and collaboration with local businesses, partners and charities, in support of local community businesses.

2) Educational Programs: The Estate intends to establish educational programs and workshops for both children and adults along with guided tours to showcase the Estate's history, conservation efforts, and sustainable practices. The Estate wants to raise awareness and share knowledge with our visitors and the wider community.

3) Cultural Heritage Preservation: Promote the preservation of cultural heritage, including historical artifacts, archives, and traditions of the Estate. Engage with local historians and cultural experts to ensure authenticity and respect for the Estate's historic and future legacy.

Slide 4

Governance (G) Strategies

1) Transparency and Accountability: The Estate emphasises transparency in its operations, governance structures, and decision-making processes. The Estate shall regularly review its ESG initiatives and performance in order to build trust and confidence, including the update of this Policy document.

2) Compliance with Heritage Regulations: The Estate shall ensure compliance with heritage and conservation regulations and Acts to protect the Estate's historical significance while aligning with modern sustainability standards.

3) Stakeholder Inclusivity: By involving local communities, team members, and other stakeholders in decision-making processes related to the Estate’s development, thereby creating an accountable and inclusive process for all.

Slide 5

Preservation of Natural and Historic Assets

1) Wildlife Conservation: The Estate shall implement measures to protect and enhance biodiversity within the Estate. This shall include habitat restoration and tree planting, development of the Estate’s Nature Reserve, wildlife corridors, and the creation of biodiverse, environmental areas, such as the Estate’s Rewilding project.
2) Historic Garden Preservation: The Estate shall maintain and, where appropriate, restore historic gardens using sustainable practices, such as within the Walled Gardens. The Estate shall utilise organic and sustainable gardening methods as far as possible and involve local communities in garden-related events and activities.

Heritage Tourism and Economic Diversification

1) Tourism Development: Strategically develop tourism initiatives that highlight the Estate's cultural and environmental assets. This can contribute to the wider and more local economies while raising awareness about sustainable practices. These initiatives involve EcoTourism within the Rewilding and Nature Reserve areas with potential for overnight accommodation, as well as daytime activities and events within the Parkland of the Estate.
2) Diversification of Income Streams: Explore further opportunities for sustainable and regenerative agriculture, as is already on-going, renewable energy projects, such as Somers Country Park, and hosting events that align with the Estate's four Pillars and the Estate’s historical and environmental values.

Team Well-being

1) Training: Provide training opportunity and programs for the Estate team
2) Health and Safety Measures: Implement health and safety measures to ensure the ongoing well-being of team members, contractors and visitors.

Slide 6

Commitment to Diversity and Equality

1) We are committed to:
i) Eliminating Discrimination: We will not tolerate discrimination based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.
ii) Creating an Inclusive Environment: We strive to create an inclusive work environment where everyone feels respected and valued.
iii)Equal Opportunities: We provide equal opportunities for all team members, regardless of their background or characteristics.

2) Recruitment and Selection
i) Fair and Open Recruitment: We are committed to fair and open recruitment processes, ensuring that all candidates are assessed based on their skills, qualifications, and suitability for the role.

3) Training and Development
i) Equal Access to Training: All team members will have access to training and development opportunities.

4) Promotion and Career Development
i) Merit-based Promotion: Promotion decisions will be based on merit, skills, and performance, without any form of discrimination.
ii) Support for Career Development: We are committed to supporting the career development of all team members.

5) Harassment and Bullying
i) We have a zero-tolerance policy for harassment and bullying. All team members are expected to treat each other with respect, creating a workplace free from intimidation and hostility.

6) Monitoring and Review
i) This policy will be regularly reviewed to ensure its effectiveness.

7) Communication and Training
i) This policy will be communicated to all team members.

Slide 7

Monitoring and Enforcement

1) We shall use our best endeavours to proactively prevent and mitigate instances of non-compliance with our ESG policy. Any concerns or concerns of potential breaches, including ethical concerns in our commitment to high ethical standards, should be reported as soon as possible to your Line Manager or the Business Owners. Progress on this policy shall be reported to the Board on a regular basis. Active participation and engagement at all levels of the business is of great importance to ensure ownership of our ESG by all our teams. At the very least, we endeavour to maintain compliance with all legislative requirements.

We tailor our ESG strategy to the specific constitution and values of the Packington Estate, which is essential. Our regular monitoring and adaptation of strategies based on feedback, changing circumstances, and evolving ESG standards will contribute to the long-term success of the Estate as a sustainable and socially responsible entity.

So by adhering to this Policy, we aim to mould and create a significant enterprise, one that reflects the diversity of our rural community and promotes fairness, equality, and mutual respect.