112 TEMPLE PADDOCK

October 31st 2001 I recorded:

This land is owned by Rothley Temple Estates but leased to Westfield Farm, Westfield Lane and used by Tenant Farmer Kathleen Hyman for sheep grazing on a rota basis. At the time of our visit the grass was very long and lush due to not being grazed over the previous months. This was not purely due to the grazing system but the restrictions on moving livestock during the Foot and Mouth outbreak of 2001. However, about 20 sheep were able to be moved in at the following weekend.

The entrance to this field is on the Westfield Lane, next to the Rothley Court Hotel which was originally called The Temple. This large house played a big part in the history of Rothley and a great deal of land was owned including areas of parkland. This land has been largely sold but much remains in the ownership of Rothley Temple Estates and leased out for farming.
This field is bounded on one side by Rothley Brook, another by a pasture field in private ownership, another by Westfield Lane and the fourth by the grounds of the Rothley Court Hotel.

Temple Paddock contains some fine trees which have room to grow. They are covered by a TPO. They have been recorded as Ancient Trees and a lovely Oak is the first tree to be detailed. They have been recorded as follows:
Oak Tree 1 has a girth of 5.88m (19ft 3") with a height of 30m and a full canopy. Standing upright, hollows at trunk base and wounds from fallen branches. There was dead wood under the tree and it has lost some of its large arms. A further survey will be needed in the winter to get a better view of the branches and for a photograph that shows its structure more clearly.

Beech Tree 2 has a girth of 4.74m (15ft 6") and a height of 30m with a full canopy. Standing upright but with a split trunk at 4m. No hollows at the base. At 1.8m the trunk 'waists'. It looks to be a healthy tree.
Beech Tree 3 has. Lots of hollows. a girth of 4.98m (16ft 6") and a height of 30m with a full canopy. This tree has broken branches and wounds and is also leaning. Large branches on the ground.
Oak Tree 4 has a girth of 3.83m (12ft 7") and a height of 30m with a full canopy. Standing upright but with broken branches, wounds and hollows. Severe damage at the top of the tree with the loss of the main branch. Lots of debris under the tree.

There are other trees with girths just short of 3.77m and one still has to be measured once barbed wire has been negotiated.

There are two Crab Apple Trees in this field.

The Rothley Brook borders this field but access is restricted by barbed wire. This piece of land needs to be monitored in the early spring for plants that might indicate ancient woodland. There were 20 pheasants seen.

Another boundary fronting Westfield Lane has a strip of narrow woodland and fenced off from the road and field by parkland iron railings. I recorded 31 nests in a Rookery in this woodland on 30th March 2002.
There is also a brick built hovel for the animals to shelter in but this is in a state of disrepair and modern size bricks used when built. However, in the floor there was a line of older narrow bricks but due to the state of the floor it was not possible in this part of the field and looks to be the orchard of The Temple.
A further part of the boundary is the granite wall of the Rothley Temple (Rothley Court Hotel) which extends to form a rectangle in this part of the field and looks to be the orchard of The Temple.
The side boundary to The Temple is parkland iron railings with overgrown shrubs.
The boundary next to Kingfisher House is shrub with mature Ash Trees and barbed wire fencing to keep in the livestock.
There is an electric fence around part of this field.

2004
Temple Paddock has been taken away from Kathleen Hyman, Tenant Farmer of Westfield Farm. It seems that Rothley Temple Estates can do this and their tenants have no say in the matter.

July 2005
I took a walk along Westfield Lane and saw that the field was now being used as a horse paddock. Also, the hovel was being renovated as a shelter for the horses. I must take another look to see what has been done.

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