Biodiversity

All our work in the garden aims to enhance biodiversity. We encourage more resilient and coherent ecological networks and healthy and well-functioning ecosystems, with multiple benefits for both wildlife and people.

More habitats for wildlife

We increase and improve habitats for wildlife. Introducing more boxes for bats and birds is one step we are taking. You will also notice that when we coppice our trees, to keep them safe and healthy, we leave wood to make log piles for insects, spiders, ladybirds and beetles. We have reduced how often we cut the grass – longer grass provides good habitats for insects. We will be more actively managing our woodland by improving the diversity of species of trees to create more homes for birds and wildlife.

Organic growing

Our Kitchen Garden is 100% organic. Throughout the gardens, we use biological controls rather than pesticides and herbicides to encourage more diverse species of plants and flowers to grow naturally, encouraging more insects, beetles and spiders.

Reducing our carbon footprint

We want to reduce how much carbon we produce. All our work is carried out manually in the Kitchen Garden and we have introduced ‘no dig’ principles, as digging releases carbon. We re-use natural materials produced from coppicing our trees for fencing off areas, supports for vegetable growing and creation of ‘dead-hedge’ habitats. We compost all the waste we collect from gardening, grass cutting and coppicing to turn into compost.

Less water

We want to reduce how much water we use. We have a grey water system that captures rainwater from the roofs of our buildings in our estate’s yard, which we use to water. We have introduced more water butts in the Kitchen Garden to water our fruit and vegetables. Planting in autumn also reduces the need to water.