Woodland & Conservation
Preserving the land for the future
Wildlife conservation is woven through everything we do on the Estate. From hedgerows to headlands, from new woodland to ancient watercourses, we have spent decades building a landscape that is richer in wildlife than the one we inherited.
In the last decade 15,000 trees and over 12 kilometres of new hedgerows have been established and we plan to improve on this over the coming decade.
Conservation across the farm
Conservation is not a separate department. It is built into our rotation, our hedgerow management, our water planning and our woodland work. From wide field margins and flower-rich strips to insect-friendly cover crops, the entire Estate is managed with biodiversity in mind.
Native woodland
We are guardians of woodland old and new. Some of our most-loved copses have been on the estate for centuries. We have also planted significant new woodland in recent years.
Grassland & meadow
Through our grassland management programme, we are stewards of a multitude of open spaces, including the iconic Trumpington Meadows along the banks of the River Cam.
Public access
There are more than twelve kilometres of public and permissive footpaths across the Estate. We work hard to keep these in good order, and to share this landscape with the people who live, work and visit here.
Our projects
Our conservation and land-management projects are ongoing, some take decades to mature. Below are a few of the schemes we are proudest of.
Cambridge Diamond Jubilee Wood
In 2012, the estate was awarded a Diamond Wood by the Woodland Trust to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. One wood was awarded to each county across England, and we were honoured to plant the Cambridgeshire Diamond Jubilee Wood at Cantelupe Farm at the heart of the estate. The initiative enabled us to plant sixty acres of new native woodland between 2012 and 2013, a legacy that will be growing long after any of us are gone.
Trumpington Fen
We tasked ourselves with curating a haven for nature along the banks of the Cam, building diversity back into the ecosystem all the way from Trumpington to the city centre. The work continues today, in partnership with neighbours and conservation bodies.
Estate Margins
A multi-year programme of wide field margins, beetle banks and flower-rich strips across the arable estate, providing food and shelter for farmland birds, pollinators and small mammals across the rotation.
Nine Wells
The chalk springs at Nine Wells, just east of Trumpington, are the source of Hobson's Conduit, the watercourse that feeds Cambridge city centre. We work alongside key stakeholders to safeguard this rare habitat.
Public Access
Over twelve kilometres of public and permissive paths across the estate, kept open and maintained for the local community, including key links between Grantchester, Trumpington and Barton.