Restoration of wood pasture and parkland

Under this regime, we are maintaining and restoring the historic and landscape character of wood pasture or parkland. In one part of the Estate we have an area that is suitable for restoration and supports a number of ancient trees and parkland features. We are managing the site by grazing cattle to maintain this unique habitat.

Hedgerow Management

We have a wide diversity of hedge rows marking field boundaries. To ensure that hedgerows are able to thrive, field cultivations are restricted to 2 meters from the center of each hedge. Also we restrict cutting hedges to once in every 3 years which encourages greater fruit production, providing a winter food source. This also provides a chance for the shape to be maintained, which in turn is beneficial to the longevity of the hedge and also benefiting the wildlife using the hedge for nesting and protection from predation. Hedge cutting takes place during the months of November, December and January to minimize damage to the plant and disturbance to wildlife.

We are also undertaking a large hedge planting program to restore large parts of lost hedging. A mixture of locally found species are chosen to represent the character of our soil type and climate.

Restoration of woodland

Under this scheme we maintain and restore woodlands to benefit wildlife and protect and strengthen the local landscape character.

There are a number of management techniques employed.

• maintaining rides and glades within the woodland by topping or cutting.
• high forest management by applying for felling licence's and replanting after removing selected trees.
• rotational coppicing to rejuvenate the woodland floor and bring back the hazel coppice into rotation. This work is carried out by spar makers for the thatching industry.
  

Trees are of historic and landscape significance in both arable and grassland situations, and also provide habitat for many invertebrates and birds. An uncultivated area around an ancient oak may help to prolong its life and for this reason we do not carry out any cultivations, weed control or spread fertilizer under the canopy of these trees. Any fallen timber is also left below the canopy.

Other woodland action

Bat and bird boxes have been placed in a number of locations around the woods, to benefit the wide range of species that exist on the Estate. Before entering into the Higher Level Stewardship Scheme, an audit took place and this identified a number of important species of butterflies, birds and mammals. The management techniques described above will help these target species