Monthly Archives: February 2026

Thanks to Maddy Bull and BBC Online News for the Headline.

A seed planted many years ago, between 1809 and 1815 by Mary Ann Brailsford which grew into a tree, the fruit of which was discovered by Henry Merryweather fifty years later.

The garden in which the tree stood was then owned by Mathew Bramley. It’s seedlings became the progenitor of the Bramely Apple, which we know and love today and is seen now on many supermarket shelves . Mary Ann Brailsford’s tree is therefore very significant and ideally it would be lovely for it’s location and health to be preserved.

The cottages and land that the tree is on is now owned by Nottingham Trent University and they have done a sterling job in keeping Mary’s tree alive as it has being diagnosed with incurable honey fungus, but the land does not suit the University’s future plans

If the land is sold the worry is that the tree and it’s location will be lost which in modern day land development is a distinct probability

Is it worth saving or should we accept that it would be a good idea to preserve it’s D.N.A in the Royal Horticultural Society’s massive store of plants and maybe grow a healthy tree to remember Mary, Henry and William’s contribution to apple posterity and have the tree located somewhere that people can visit it. Watch this space.

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.🙏

AI generated image of tree( not the actual one)

Thanks to Matt Simpson , Reporter Oxfordshire News Online for the Headline

The tea room at Grey’s Court in the Chiltern Hills at Rotherfield Greys closed on Sunday afternoon(February 8th) suddenly and unexpectedly without the normal chalk on a white blackboard explaining what was happening and if the Cafe will reopen anytime soon.

Thanks to the probing for information by the intrepid Oxfordshire News the Management of the National Trust site have said the closure of the “Cow Shed Tea Room” was to make some “improvements and upgrades”to the very popular watering shed. The fact that it had to close early on Sunday I think means something broke suddenly and the spare parts have to come from the Czech Republic by Donkey Courier. Hence the delay. Though in true NT speak, everything is under control.

The very positive Management message from the National Trust is that they look forward to welcoming you back shortly , though they can’t confirm a date yet.

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.🙏

Thanks to Gem O’Reilly and Amy Clarke and BBC News Online for the Headline.

Gorne Wood is listed as protected Metropolitan Open Land containing 500 year old trees and endangered species.

AA Homes who currently own the land and have no planning permission to build houses on it thus the value of the land is not the £3million that they are asking but probably closer to the £60 ,000 that the local people have offered to take it off their hands and regain the space for them to enjoy which they have been unable to do for the last 25 years as various owners have sealed it off and let it go to waste.( probably helping the endangered species thrive).

I hope common sense prevails, London needs it’s green spaces whether or not Big Government tries to classify them as grey spaces, giving unscrupulous developers the opportunity to sell off the land with the promise of Housebuilding Profits.

It’s London today and the rest of the Country tomorrow, unscrupulous developers are everywhere, we are just not looking at our existing housing stock, it’s just build, build build and once it’s gone it’s gone. The infrastructure, the pollution and the decimation of nature is a long lasting legacy .

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.🙏