I would like to thank all the Staff or making our visit so interesting and enjoyable, the splendid repast when arriving set the tone, followed by a very detailed and instructed explanation of the Earl, his lifestyle and the history of the house.
A. Rolinson

Biodiversity

Environment & Conservation

In 2019 Brudenell Estates proudly committed 741 acres of its Northamptonshire Estate to The Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

The scheme was set up by the Government to help landowners look after and improve the environment, and we undertook the Higher Level Stewardship to carry out environmental management schemes which offer ‘significant benefits’ to the environment. The primary objectives of the Scheme are:

“Wildlife conservation, maintenance and enhancement of landscape quality and character.”

This huge undertaking depended on the co-operation of two of our tenant farmers, who were willing to contribute towards the Estate's biodiversity, whilst working with modern commercial farming activities and we are very grateful for their hard work and dedication.

We are now starting to reap huge rewards around the Estate – particularly from planting the wildflower mix, providing a rich habitat for insects, birds and small mammals.

Brudenell Estates will continue to commit to environmental improvement and enhancement of the landscape, and we look forward to bringing you further updates.

 

Agriculture

The agricultural land within the Northamptonshire and Leicestershire estates is predominately grade 3 agricultural land, supporting arable and livestock enterprises.

The arable land is used for growing cereal, the main crops being barley, wheat, oilseed rape, oats and beans.

In addition to the in-hand farm, there are several holdings which are let, and some seasonal grass-letting arrangements, including the parkland at Deene Park.

All let holdings are family-run operations, many of whom have been tenants on the Estates for three generations or more.

Nature conservation plays an important part in the management of the estate.  As part of our commitment to responsible stewardship several agri-environmental schemes are operating on the land, these help to support the biodiversity across the Estate.

If you would like to find out more about the farming operations on the Estate, you can contact us here.

 

Woodlands

Each year Deene Park welcomes over 300 children from local schools, ranging from Reception to Year 6.  The children visit the historic Dibbin’s Wood as part of the Royal Forestry Society’s Teaching Trees Programme.

 

Forestry

Forestry and sustainable energy is important to us at Deene Park.

There are approximately 1,400 acres of woodland across the Northamptonshire and Leicestershire Estates under nine separate woodland management schemes. The woodlands within the Northamptonshire Estate form part of the ancient Rockingham Forest and provide a scenic backdrop to Deene Park. Whilst the woodlands may look entirely natural, they are carefully managed for sustainability and biodiversity. The Brudenell Family over many generations have carefully tended the woodlands and they are overseen by a forestry consultant. The managed woodland also provides a wealth of sustainable timber including hardwood.

Deenethorpe Airfield Woodland Creation Project

Situated on elevated land just one mile south-east of the Brudenell family’s historic seat at Deene Park, Deenethorpe Airfield is what remains of RAF Deenethorpe, a World War II air base used by the USAAF’s 401st Bombardment Group, from where 255 combat missions were flown against Nazi-occupied targets in Europe.

After the war, the site remained with the RAF until 1947 and was then taken back by Deene Park Estate and returned to agriculture.

In 2016, the Estate saw the potential to enhance this prominent but exposed site, by undertaking what would become one of the three largest woodland creation schemes in England that year.

Plans were drawn up to convert 40 hectares (100 acres) of arable land into woodland to link, buffer and expand the nearby ancient woods that partly surround the airfield.  The new woods were designed to meet several key environmental policies, including wildlife habitat creation, flood prevention, water pollution reduction, and climate change abatement through carbon sequestration.  At the same time, the woods will be managed to produce sustainably grown timber and fuel wood products as part of the Estate’s wider forestry business.

In total, 24 species of broadleaved and coniferous tree were selected to meet the design objectives, including English Oak, small-leaved Lime, Wild service tree, Black walnut, Hazel, Crab apple, Spindleberry, Scots pine, Douglas fir and Japanese red cedar.

Planting was completed in two phases, with grant assistance under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.  In total, 85,000 trees were planted, each one protected from rabbits and hares by an individual guard, and wild deer by a total of 7.6km (4.75 miles) of deer fence.

The new woodland is already making its mark in the local landscape and as it grows, it will help shape and define this important part of the ancient Rockingham Forest.  In addition, a further 8,000 new trees are to be planted just to the north, on the western side of Deenethorpe village, again to enhance the local area and further improve the setting of the village.