NORTH COTSWOLD BREWERY

The Brewery produces 20+ different beers every year.  Three are produced full time, 4 are seasonal, and a different beer every month. The Plough Inn at Stretton features a Guest beer from us.

We have an off licence which sells bottles of our real ale, cider from

Hereford and Somerset, gift packs and carry out beer.

Jon  weighing hops

The Proprietor, Jon Pilling, has been brewing for 20 years and took the existing brewery in January 2005  He won an award for his 5% “Hung  Drawn N’Ported”,  

His first brew at this brewery.  This beer has also won a gold SIBA award in 2009                                         

                                                                    Preparing to brew

The Brewery is situated at Ditchford  Farm.  The entrance to the farm is on the Shipston side of the Portobello crossroads, where the A429 Fosse Way crosses the B4035 Chipping Campden to Shipston on Stour.

For more information click on our Website  www.northcotswoldbrewery.co.uk

I have added a little information about species and status.  (Some are indeed quite rare!)

I hope you find the site an interesting and useful insight into the local natural history of the Parish of Stretton on Fosse.

Phill Clayton

Stretton Biodiversity Group

Introduction

Over the last 30 years we have lost all of our mature elm trees to Dutch Elm disease which completely changed the landscape. Following this many of the ancient hedgerows were removed and the small species-rich meadows were ploughed to make way for modern arable farming. We have now lost over 97% of this rich diverse habitat in Britain.

Because we produce many of our crops in an almost aseptic monoculture, these vast areas support very little other than planted crops.

There are many beneficial life forms such as fungi, plants, insects, birds and mammals that have suffered by the sheer scale of habitat loss. After much scientific research the government has decided that one way we can make a difference is through a Biodiversity Action Plan. Supported by Central, Local and Parish government, we can make a statement of how we intend to nurture and protect our essential local wildlife and habitat. We can do this not for ourselves but for all future generations to enjoy…

Planting Trees in the Dairy Ground Spinney

Tom, Lily and Owen Lewis planting their trees in October 2007

Parish Biodiversity Action Plan

An outline Parish BAP document has been produced by the County Council (see www.warwickshire.gov.uk/biodiversity. The document outlines habitats and species which are threatened or thought of as important are identified for the Parish and actions planned to protect them. These are the areas which already have outline plans written by the County Council: The group has selected plans that are most important to the Parish".

To protect and enhance the Parish environment the group hopes to:

Survey: A Biodiversity Action Plan or BAP gives us an opportunity to survey the countryside in our Parish and assess the richness of its flora!

Identify: A Biodiversity Action Plan is an ideal way to identify the important and vulnerable species we have and the most valuable areas for wildlife.

 Restore: Even small restoration projects that everybody may take part in can make a big difference! Clearing scrub, laying a hedge, sympathetic grazing and mowing or allowing meadow to self seed every few years is a great benefit to our wildlife.

Protect: By protecting existing habitat from further damage and sympathetically managing some of the neglected areas we can encourage a more diverse population of flora and fauna.

For more information contact:

Dave Passingham 661816 davepassingham@hotmail.com

Phill Clayton 664353 phillclayton@tiscali.co.uk