Stansted Park

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The House is set as though the Earl was still at home and gives the visitor a look at what life was like 'Upstairs and Downstairs'. A great family day out!
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Stansted Park Estate is home to one of the UK’s finest Edwardian Houses surrounded by stunning 18th Century landscape, located in the heart of the
South Downs National Park Magnificent state rooms and extensive servants' quarters await you in this beautiful Edwardian house, set in 1800 acres of ancient forest and extraordinary landscaped parkland. Bring your loved ones along to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of this amazing house. With a tea pavilion, garden centre, farm shop, walled garden, arboretum, a fun maze and miniature railway there's plenty to do for young and old! House and Chapel open Easter weekend to the end of September - Sunday to Wednesday 13:00 - 17:00 (last entry 4pm)

Grounds open 7 days a week all year round.

14/10/2026

Castle Field Plantation part 4
We are now driving in the intermediate stakes between the straining posts. These are 9' cleft chestnut stakes driven in so at least 2'6" is in the ground. These are spaced 6m metres apart. Between these are 6' cleft chestnut stakes driven in so 2' is in the ground. The next task will be to add struts to the straining posts to form the strongest anchor point possible for when the high tensile line wires are strained from them that will support the netting. The most important part of of these types of fences are the strainer assemblies. If these are not rock solid a poor-quality slack fence will be the result.
Michael Prior - Head Forester

07/10/2026

A recent tree inspection session revealed this specimen of the Brain or Cauliflower Fungus (Sparassis crispa). It was growing at the base of a dead Scots Pine which was typical as its chosen hosts are conifers where it decays roots and the lower stem although not at a very fast rate so can be seen on the same tree annually for years.
It is one of our edible fungi and is quite tasty although very difficult to clean and even after shaking and washing the only one I have eaten still had woodlice in it.
An interesting and attractive specimen to look out for in conifer woodland or ornamental gardens with large conifers it can be found from mid-summer into the autumn.
Michael Prior - Head Forester

02/10/2026

Castle field Plantation Part 3

We have now driven in the straining posts for the fencing around this new plantation. These are 200-250mm top diameter round chestnut posts cut from our own coppice. Sweet chestnut is a naturally durable timber with a long service life in the ground. In addition, once the useful life of the post or stake is over it can be left in situ to decay naturally leaving no chemical preservatives in the soil.
Due to the dry summer, I feared we may have trouble driving these 3m long posts in but after barring the pilot holes and soaking them with water for a day the post driver knocked them in to the full depth required with ease which bodes well for all the intermediate stakes that are to go in next. Another task we will carry out now is to run a tractor-mounted subsoiler along the tram lines, where the majority of former agricultural operations were carried out from. These lines get very compacted and so this will alleviate that and allow the young trees planted on those positions to get their roots down.
Michael Prior - Head Forester

30/09/2026

An important task when cutting a new hedge for the first time is to mark any hedgerow trees planted at the same time that the hedge plants went it. This hedge was planted February 2018 with a number of oak trees being planted within the fences and amongst the hedge plants (photo 1). It is now receiving a trim to shape it and I have put tape on the oak trees to ensure they are not lost in this operation. Our hedge cutting contractor is an expert at the job and very diligent and had already noticed on inspecting the work to be done that there were trees within but marking them just makes his job that much easier. This was an entirely new hedge planted between a neighbour’s grass field and arable land farmed by our tenant and after this year will go into a cutting regime whereby it will not be cut every year, but have at least two years untrimmed to provide maximum flower and fruit for wildlife. The double fencing is expensive but ensures the hedge has a thick base in its early years which would not happen so well due to the browsing of deer if it was planted just in spirals guards.
Michael Prior - Head Forester

26/09/2026

Next weekend! Adventure Cinema return to Stansted Park with 3 favourites on the big screen in front of the House. Wrap up warm and bring seating, blankets and your favourite snacks! With hot food, drinks and alcohol available to purchase onsite.

The Lost Boys (15)
Friday 2nd October 2026
Showtime: 19:30 - 21:15
Sleep all day. Party all night. Never grow old. Never die. It's fun to be a vampire.
www.stanstedpark.co.uk/events/outdoor-cinema---the-lost-boys-(15)

Hocus Pocus (PG)
Saturday 3rd October 2026
Showtime: 18:30 - 20:05
It's just a bunch of Hocus Pocus!
www.stanstedpark.co.uk/events/outdoor-cinema---hocus-pocus-(pg)

The Nightmare Before Christmas (PG)
Sunday 4th October 2026
Showtime: 18:30 - 19:50
Step into the bizarre world of Halloween Town with Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King!
www.stanstedpark.co.uk/events/outdoor-cinema---the-nightmare-before-christmas-(pg)

25/09/2026

Our next task in preparation for the new plantation in Castle Field is the felling of a number of ash trees along the southern edge of the existing tree belt. The majority of these have ash dieback disease and in addition most are rotten in the butt as they are regrowth off old coppice stools. We have also removed a number of overhanging branches. This work will reduce the likelihood of something falling on the fence that will surround the new trees to protect them from deer and rabbits.
We are also taking the opportunity to open up the lost vista up and down the Broad Walk across the Main Avenue at this point. To be continued...
Michael Prior - Head Forester

24/09/2026

Fancy test driving a BYD around Stansted Park? Snows group will be coming to the front of Stansted House this Saturday 26th September from 11am - 4pm, where you will be able to test drive the BYD electric and hybrid range including the new BYD Dolphin G.

On the day, you can enjoy a delicious hog roast provided by Hayling Hog Roast, freshly brewed hot drinks from the Daily Bagel and a fun candyfloss station powered by a BYD car. Register your interest at the below link, selecting the vehicle(s) you'd like to test drive and a member of the snows team will be in touch to confirm your attendance and test drive.
www.snows.co.uk/byd/about-us/test-drive-event/

23/09/2026

TREE OF THE MONTH
Although we are nearing a time when we hope to see some bright leaf colours, I am this month featuring a tree which will not fulfil desires for autumn splendour. This is the Italian alder (Alnus cordata) introduced from the Mediterranean in around 1820 which retains its leaves green, often until November and then drops them without any colour change. It is however a very handsome tree with glossy, heart shaped leaves, long dangling catkins in late winter and spring and small woody cones. Once these have released their seeds, they persist for a while and can be used as part of Christmas decorations as they resemble a miniature pine cone. These are fast rowing trees to 80’ or so with a dense, neat crown which is why they have often been used as windbreaks. Unlike the majority of alders that prefer damp even wet situations this tree will thrive on dry soils over chalk. Like other members of its family, it has root nodules that fix nitrogen and so are a soil improver and are often used in companion planting to nurse other species. The fact that they tolerate dry conditions is another bonus making them a tree we could plant more of in the future. We have a fine big specimen in the arboretum which I planted in 1991, but the tree featured in the picture is part of a mixed plantation on the edge of the Broad Walk Lime Avenue.
Michel Prior - Head Forester

18/09/2026

A tidy up session in our garage revealed something akin to a crime scene. Dozens of wings of Peacock butterflies were strewn across the floor. This is the result of small mammals seeking out and devouring the hibernating butterflies that were tucked away in the roof safe from the winter weather but not from hungry mice. It would most likely be Wood Mice that were the perpetrators as we see them regularly around the garden. Many small mammals will find hibernating insects and eat the nutritious body but discard the wings. All part of the daily struggle of wildlife and as Tennyson said, 'nature is red in tooth and claw'.
Michael Prior - Head Forester

Address

Stansted Park Rowland's Castle Portsmouth
Rowlands Castle
PO96DX

Website

http://www.stanstedpark.co.uk/

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