Our vision for Standinghall is to create a diverse estate with good biodiversity and the ability to generate a sustainable income from forestry, farming, commercial letting and recreation.

Originally formed part of the neighbouring Paddockhurst Estate until 2017. Paddockhurst still belongs to our broader family, but in 2018 we began to run Standinghall independently of the main estate.

Stay with us in our recently renovated and beautifully furnished seventeenth century cottage, Coldharbour farmhouse. Or from May to September, in our campsite run by Embers (Turners Hill site).

The estate woodland management has been approved by the Forestry Commission. Our objective is to work towards a continuous cover forestry model, focusing on natural regeneration. The woods are home to a variety of birds including Goshawk, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Firecrests.

We have undertaken some thinning works already under licence from the FC. Including a clear fell of a Norway Spruce plantation which was supported through the Forestry Commission Tree Health Pilot grant scheme relating to Spruce Bark Beetle (Ips Typographus). The area is to be replanted with English Oak, Douglas Fir, Scots Pine and Wild Cherry. And a mixture of lower growing pollinators, Blackthorn, Hawthorn and Crabapple which will be planted along the roadside which forms our boundary.

Our fields are entered into the Mid-Tier Countryside Stewardship Scheme for low input grassland. This means no nitrogen can be used on the fields and no mechanical works such as cutting for silage or topping can take place between ……. To protect ground nesting birds and species-rich meadows, ancient woodlands and to enhance birdlife and butterflies.

Through grant funding we have just completed 2000m of stock fencing around the first area of farmland to be entered into Countryside Stewardship. This is low input grassland to be grazed by cattle.

We are planting a selection trees throughout our woods that are recommended as being resistant to climate change. The varieties we have chosen will begin to form a mosaic of tree species that will provide habitats and act as pollinators. In the longer term, some will produce quality timber for construction. Although not in our lifetime!

A few of the more unusual examples are swamp cypress, Japanese red cedar and wild service trees (one of our rarest native hardwoods).

We are also renovating a collection of barns from which we hope to be able to offer courses which focus on the environment, countryside skills, crafts and other learning or wellness activities.