Celebrating Braziers Park: 75 Years of Curiosity, Community and Conscious Change
Braziers Park comprises 57 acres of land, including the main house and several outbuildings. The history of these building spans over 300 years, and a stone in the cellar carries the date 1688. The main building, originally a farmhouse, was remodelled in Strawberry Hill Gothic style in the late 18th and early 19th century, and has been a Grade II* listed building since 1985. Our land remains farmland, mainly used as pasture with enclosing woodland, in sharp contrast to the large areas of open arable land around it. The underlying geology is chalk, with superficial deposits of clay-with-flints in places. The Braziers' estate is now being managed so the wide diversity of habitats can be preserved and enhanced. These include meadows containing some rare grassland species. Braziers Park has its own organic kitchen garden, orchard, water garden, amenity gardens, and a woodland walk, which offers visitors an opportunity to experience some of the wildlife beauties of the estate.
In 2001, Braziers Park successfully applied to join the Government’s Countryside Stewardship Scheme which provides funding for managing land for conservation purposes. The scheme has completed ten years and covers hedge planting and maintenance, tree planting, both for landscape enhancement and to provide woodland for coppicing, and meadow management. Much of the work involved so far has been undertaken by volunteers. We try to maintain the buildings and land as ecologically as possible and to reduce our carbon footprint wherever we can. Electricity is supplied by Octopus and heating and hot water from a highly efficient woodchip boiler system. In the coming years we have plans for greater water harvesting and renovation of our ancient barn, dairy and granary - we are always grateful for volunteers and expertise to help us with these projects.
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Braziers Park School of Integrative Social Research (BPSISR) was founded in 1950 and since 27th August 2020 is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) pursuant to the Cooperative and Community Benefit Society Act 2014. Registration Number 8454. BPSISR is an exempt Charity.