October 2014

31st October 2014

– Mild, sunny, light southerly wind.

A male Stonechat was found in front of Railway Hide this morning and worked its way down towards Oak Hide before disappearing. There was also a showy Green Woodpecker there.

30th October 2014

– Mild and overcast

Unseasonal singles of Dunlin and Redshank were present on Car Park and Railway Pools respectively. Two Water Rails called from the north causeway hide and a few Redwings were scattered across the Reserve.

There were two Ravens feeding on the flood plain along with 12 Redwings and at least twoMigrant Hawkers were on the wing in the afternoon.

29th October 2014

– Murky and drizzly for much of the day.

No records.

28th October 2014

– Mild south-westerly

Visible migration this morning consisted of 203 Starlings, 10 Redwings, eight Chaffinches, two Greenfinches, a Dunnock , 45 Wood Pigeons, five Skylarks, a Siskin and a Meadow Pipit.

A few Song Thrushes, Redwings and Blackbirds were scattered across the Reserve and there were 15-20 Reed Buntings on the causeway with another 5-10 on the edge of the crop field, along with two Yellowhammers. There are still just over 20 Chaffinches in the Old Road game crop.

Both male and female Sparrowhawks were seen in the afternoon. There were at least sixPied Wagtails on the Reserve along with four Common Gulls and two Siskins were amongst the Finches by the Oak Hide.

27th October 2014

– Overcast, south, south-westerly wind.

There were again a reasonable number of Reed Buntings along the causeway with at least 15 there and another five to ten on the edge of the crop field with four Yellowhammers.

Seven Snipe were feeding in front of Car Park Hide on the grass and along with the leucisticLapwing again there was a single Common Gull but there is yet to be any decent numbers of this species.

There was a flock of 15 Goldfinches flying around a number of parts of the Reserve and on the railway embankment there was a Goldcrest, two Mistle Thurshes, four Redwings and aSong Thrush.

26th October 2014

– Overcast morning, occasional sunny intervals in the afternoon, brisk south westerly

A late male Blackcap was feeding on berries in the back gate compound in the morning.

Overhead, two Ravens flew over in the morning with another in the afternoon. Two Mistle Thrushes were seen along the central stream and another five later along the Old Road. There were two Treecreepers on the Railway embankment with a roving Tit flock and on the pools there were 123 Shoveler.

In the afternoon, the male Mandarin reappeared on the Reedbed Pool.

25th October 2014

– Mostly sunny, light south westerly

Some Wood Pigeon passage in the morning saw 572 birds south by 9pm. Other overhead passage during the morning included 30 Redwings, two Fieldfares, three Grey Wagtails, 38Skylarks and a few Meadow Pipits.

Other counts today were as follows: Three Dabchicks, three Grey Herons, 23 Cormorants, six Mute Swans, a Black Swan, 371 Greylags, two Farmyard Geese, 40 Canadas, 167Wigeon, 18 Gadwall, 142 Teal, 107 Mallard, 119 Shoveler, 11 Pochard, 17 Tufted Duck, 16 Moorhens, 12 Coot, 326 Lapwing (including the leucistic individual) five Snipe, twoKestrels, three Sparrowhawks, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 153 Black-headed Gulls, one Common Gull, five Rooks on the flood plain, 20 Goldfinches along the Concrete Road along with a Mistle Thrush and two Goldcrests, a Kingfisher on the Dragonfly Pool, five Bullfinches (three on the Old Road and two on the Railway embankment), and a Tree Creeper on the Old Road.

24th October 2014

– Patchy light rain in the morning, light south westerly, occasional sunny intervals in the afternoon

No records.

23rd October 2014

– Remaining mild but overcast, south westerly

It was quiet this morning with just a few Redwings by the back gate, a handful of Meadow Pipits flying over, a Pintail and a pair of Bullfinches by Oak Hide. A drake Mandarin was a new find during the middle of the morning, principally visible from the causeway looking into Car Park Pool.

Other birds of note included five Yellowhammers in the crop field along with a Song Thrush, a Water Rail at the causeway hide, four Common Gulls, a Muntjac and a fox.

22nd October 2014

– Sunshine and showers, south westerly

50 Redwings went over this morning and there were two Mistle Thrushes and a Chiffchaffby the Car Park gates. At least 20 Reed Buntings were feeding along the causeway with twoSong Thrushes. Pochard numbers reached 15 and there was a Kingfisher by River Hide.

21st October 2014

– Sunshine and showers, south westerly

The juvenile male Pintail reappeared on Car Park Pool today where the Common Sandpiperalso put in an appearance. A Raven went over the flood plain, a Water Rail showed on the causeway, two Grey Wagtails also went over and Snipe numbered 14.

20th October 2014

– Wet and very windy

Remaining relatively quiet in the windy conditions with birds of note limited to the long stayingCommon Sandpiper, the Chiffchaff along the Old Road, seven Goldcrests spread between Oak Hide and South West Pond, a leucistic Lapwing amongst the flock, a flock of 27Redwings over, and a Mistle Thrush was by the Car Park

19th October 2014

– Warm and sunny but blustery south-westerly wind.

On a mild and sunny but blustery morning, there was only limited movement overhead. Between 8 and 10 a.m. 21 Starlings, two Skylarks, six Redwings, five Chaffinches, twoGreenfinches, three alba Wags, a Linnet and two Herring Gulls all went west.

East of the A452 there were at least 25 Skylarks (with one in song), six Meadow Pipits, aYellowhammer, three Ravens and a male Kestrel.

Along the Old Road, at least two Song Thrushes, four Blackbirds and six Redwings were feeding on the Hawthorn berries by the top gate and there was a Bullfinch by the cottages. In the Old Road game crop, the Chaffinch flock has built up to about 30 birds and there were also two Goldcrests there.

There were two Snipe on the Dragonfly Pool along with two Common Darters and bothWoodpeckers were in the hedgeline. A Great Crested Grebe was on Car Park Pool.

Other birds of note during the rest of day included a Chiffchaff in a Tit flock by Railway Hide, four Common Gulls and a further flock of 25 Redwings which were over.

18th October 2014

– Overnight rain into the 18th, overcast and breezy.

Probably the best bird of the day was a Jack Snipe which was visible from Oak Hide on one of the islands before flying to the Marsh. There are also ten Common Snipe. One of the Water Rails showed from the causeway and at least 50 Redwing and a Grey Wagtail went over in the early morning. Common Sandpiper was again present.
Other counts were: 25 Cormorants, two Herons, five Mutes, 349 Greylags, three Farmyard Geese, two Canadas, 152 Wigeon, 352 Gadwall, 165 Teal, 111 Mallard, 80 Shoveler, seven Tufted, 12 Moorhen, 11 Coot, another Water Rail in the Marsh, 237 Lapwingincluding a leucistic (pale brown) individual, 320 Black-headed Gulls, seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls and another Common Gull. Further Thrush passage included the firstFieldfare of the autumn in the late morning, together with 30 more Redwings and fourMistle Thrushes.There were at least four Migrant Hawkers seen across the Reserve.

17th October 2014

– Sunny and warm, nearly 20 degrees.

A first-winter Mediterranean Gull were in the Black-heads on Car Park Pool for a few minutes this morning, before flying off north. It appeared again at 11 a.m. when it then flew south. The Pintail and Peregrine were again seen. Overhead passage comprised at least twoGrey Wagtails, three alba Wagtails, 100 Redwings, five Skylarks and five Meadow Pipitswhilst on the pools, there was an immature Herring Gull, a Kingfisher, a Common Sandpiper and ten Pochard.

16th October 2014

– Mostly overcast, south, south-westerly wind.

The juvenile male Pintail remained on Railway Pool where there was also a Common Sandpiper. At least 100 Redwings, 20 Skylarks and ten Meadow Pipits went over and the juvenile Peregrine buzzed the Lapwings on Car Park Pool. A Queen Hornet inspected the River Hide and the “occupants”.

15th October 2014

– Mostly overcast but with some sunny intervals in the morning, some light drizzle, north-westerly wind.

An improved selection of birds today included on Car Park Pool two Pintail (which spent most of the day asleep on the islands right in front of the hide), 13 Pochard and a Green andCommon Sandpiper. Overhead passage, albeit relatively thin, did include three Swallows, 41 Redwing and a further four which dropped into the back gate copse, singles of Chaffinchand Linnet, two Pied Wagtails, one Grey Wagtail and further more distant unidentifiableRedwings or Song Thrushes.

Seven Common Gulls joined a turnover of Black-headed Gulls and a Red Admiral Butterfly and a Common Darter were also on the wing by the south-west pond.

In the afternoon, John Belsey heard a Rock Pipit flying over, imitated the call and drew the bird down for it to land on the fence by Car Park Hide before flying off and perhaps landing on Railway Pool. This is the first for the year and indeed the first for some time for what used to be an annual species.

There also appeared to be an increase in Robins with at least ten counted along the Old Road. Around the causeway and central stream area, there were at least four Goldcrests and threeSong Thrushes. Two Yellowhammers were with the Reed Buntings on the edge of the crop field.

Last, but not least, a Chiffchaff was seen and heard by the top gate.

14th October 2014

– Overcast, drizzly, cool north-easterly wind.

With slightly less rain and slightly better visibility today, there were one or two more birds of interest. The first 22 Redwings of the year flew over with 18 in the morning and a further four at lunchtime. A Dunlin joined the long-staying Common Sandpiper in the afternoon and two first-winter Common Gulls went through. A flock of 60 Linnets were down at Patrick Farm and approximately ten Skylarks went through during the day. Three Water Rails showed well, two in the Marsh and one from the north causeway screen and other counts comprised 218 Teal, 123 Shoveler and 280 Lapwing. Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard were all seen.

13th October 2014

– Wet all day, cool north-easterly wind.

It was cold, wet and miserable all day and the weather did no particular favours for the birds. Those of interest were limited to the long-staying Common Sandpiper which frequented both Car Park and Railway Pool during the morning, two Ravens went over Railway Pool and aWater Rail which showed again from the north causeway hide.

12th October 2014

– Chilly, foggy start, slowly clearing, light north-easterly wind.

It took until mid-day for the fog to clear and early visible migration was probably going on well above the fog and was probably inaudible.

The first Golden Plovers of the autumn (8) were in the arable field by the Aeromodellers and the late-staying Common Sandpiper was on Railway Pool this morning. A Kingfisher flew over Car Park Pool in the morning and other bits and pieces included 30 Reed Buntings in the crop field, ten Goldfinches by the car park along with a Chiffchaff and a possible sub-songingReed Warbler which refused to give itself up. A Redpoll also flew over the Old Road in the late afternoon.

11th October 2014

– Mostly sunny, occasional showers, south-westerly wind.

Visible migration this morning up to about mid-day comprised 15 alba Wags, 19 Meadow Pipits and 26 Skylarks.

Up to two Water Rails showed on and off for much of the day from the north causeway hide and a single Chiffchaff performed around the car park. The Common Sandpiper was again on Car Park Pool, the Kingfisher showed well on Railway Pool and, at about 5 pm in gorgeous light, a late Yellow Wagtail went over, calling. Other counts during the day comprised fourLittle Grebes, 14 Cormorants, four Herons, one Mute Swan, 483 Greylags, threeFarmyard Geese, 298 Canadas, 140 Wigeon, 186 Teal, 12 Gadwall, 68 Mallard, 113Shoveler, seven Tufteds, 15 Moorhen, 18 Coot, 216 Lapwing, at least 12 Snipe, 197Black-headed Gulls, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, nine Linnets (at Patrick Farm), threeGoldcrests on the Old Road, three Bullfinch in the back gate copse and two differentSparrowhawks.

In the late afternoon, there were at least ten Reed Buntings on the edge of the crop field and a female Yellowhammer dropped in to join them.

10 October 2014

– Sunny start.

This morning a Common Sandpiper was on Car Park Pool and a male Stonechat was new in and showing well from Railway Hide, perching on the Reedmace stems on the shore line. Flocks of Skylark totalling 25 moved south, as did a Grey Wagtail. A Water Rail showed well from Railway Hide whilst two Rooks and a male Kestrel flew over and a Common Gull dropped into Railway Pool in the afternoon.

9th October 2014

– Sunshine and showers, south-westerly wind.

The only record today was the Water Rail, which was again showing in the channels from the north causeway hide.

8th October 2014

– Sunshine and showers, south-westerly wind.

The adult Peregrine was about again this morning and again caused the Lapwings to be particularly fidgety. Other birds seen over or around the Reserve included singles ofChiffchaff, Goldcrest, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush (2), Grey Wagtail, Green Sand andHerring Gull.

7th October 2014

– Wet am, clearing and dry pm. South-westerly wind.

A Peregrine came in from the south and put up all the Lapwings at 8 a.m., and then moved on to Siden Hill Wood and displaced the Pigeons from there. The female Pintail showed well in front of Car Park Hide and Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and Bullfinch were present around Railway Hide.

In the afternoon, a Hobby flew over Siden Hill Wood at 2.30 with about 15 House Martinsand there was a Green Sandpiper on the Dragonfly Pool.

6th October 2014

– Wet am, clearing and dry pm. South-westerly wind.

The first Jack Snipe of the autumn was on the shore line in front of Car Park Hide this morning and the Pintail was also on Car Park Pool. 12 Snipe were feeding on the grass around Car Park Hide and a Water Rail was again visible from the causeway hide.

5th October 2014

– Mostly sunny, light south-easterly wind.

The female Pintail was again on Car Park Pool with plenty of other wildfowl including 130Shoveler. There is an interesting contrasts in the shades of brown and grey of the Teal and one wonders if this is different populations or just vagaries of the individuals.

16 Snipe showed particularly well feeding on the grass in front of Car Park Hide and a Water Rail again showed well from the north causeway screen.

Mistle Thrush, ten Meadow Pipits and three Skylarks went over and the Treecreeper was again feeding on the Alders by the south-west pond. Chiffchaff and two Kestrels were amongst the birds on the Old Road, a female Sparrowhawk went over Car Park Pool and a very late record was the report of a briefly singing Sedge Warbler on the railway embankment in the afternoon.

4th October 2014

– Wet a.m., dry p.m. North-westerly wind.

A pretty damp morning meant that, on the whole, passerines were hard to come by. There was no visible migration and most of the attention turned to the pools.

A Curlew flew through at about 10 a.m. but there was no sign of either the Garganey or thePintail. 28 Snipe, a Green Sandpiper and 155 Shoveler were noteworthy. Other counts were as follows: eight Little Grebe, two Herons, 21 Cormorants, two Mute Swans, theBlack Swan, the Farmyard Goose, 179 Greylags, 40 Canadas, 83 Wigeon, 30 Gadwall, 154 Teal, 78 Mallard, 13 Pochard, 22 Tufted, 19 Moorhen, 23 Coot, one Water Rail from the causeway hide, seven Lesser Black-backed, 200 Black-headed Gulls, 131 Lapwingand a Raven.

As the weather improved, four Swallows went south and three Chiffchaffs were calling or in song (causeway, back gate and the Old Road).

3rd October 2014

– Breezy and mostly sunny, southerly wind.

A Red Kite circled the Reedbed and crop field and drifted south over the lorry park at 9.15 a.m. This is the first since July. The Pintail remained on Car Park Pool but there was no sign of the Garganey. Thin overhead passage comprised a single Grey Wagtail, two Pied Wagtails, a few Meadow Pipits and a Skylark.

2nd October 2014

– Overcast start, sunny later, light north-easterly wind.

The female Pintail was again on Car Park Pool this morning and a Green Sandpiper showed well on the Dragonfly Pond at 1.30. A Kingfisher was heard calling as it flashed across the pools and a few Pipits and Skylarks, along with a single Grey Wagtail were the birds on the move during the morning. The

Garganey

could not be found.

1st October 2014

– Sunny and still

Both the Garganey and a Common Sandpiper were feeding in the north-west corner of Car Park Pool at 9.30 am but there was no sign initially of the Pintail.

Visible (and audible) overhead passage from 7.45 am to 9 am comprised 13 Meadow Pipits, eight alba Wags, seven Skylarks and three Reed Buntings, with ten more Reed Buntings, a female Bullfinch and a Yellowhammer on the causeway.

Two Chiffchaffs called from the Old Road and Nuthatch and Treecreeper from the back gate where Western Power have nearly finished the tree removal from the side of the overhead line. Whilst it now looks very open, it should improve the wood in the long term.

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.