Countryside Stewardship Scheme
Bulwick Estates is delighted to announce that it has now embarked upon a largescale environmental enhancement project on 1000acres (400hectares) of land between the villages of Harringworth and Bulwick. The estate’s new Countryside Stewardship scheme, agreed in partnership with Natural England, is the next exciting step in a long history of conservation oriented farming and woodland management going back decades.
The new scheme follows years of planning, which culminated in 2022 with the approval of a widely consulted, 700 page expert feasibility study and master plan. The plan considers all aspects of land management, history and heritage, landscape and wildlife conservation to inform the Countryside Stewardship application.
Summary stats
Bulwick Estates is to create, restore and manage:
· 242hecatres (600acres) of species rich grassland and hay meadows
· 130hectares (320acres) of structurally diverse wood pasture with 800 new trees
· 33.6hecatares (83acres) of infield plots for pollinating insects, nesting lapwings, and seed for wild birds, with additional supplementary winter feeding
· 21.7km (13.5miles) of field edge strips for wild flowers, water and woodland edge protection
· 30.8km (19.25 miles) of hedgerow management and 1000m of new hedges
· Educational visits for school children to learn about farming, food production and conservation.
· Plus stone wall and heritage feature restoration, scrub and tree management and eyesore removal
What you might see at first
One outcome of the new project will be more cattle and sheep on the estate. These animals help us simulate the actions of natural large herbivores on promoting ecological processes. They also give us an opportunity to sustainably produce meat on land that’s been mostly quarried and has little other productive use.
We are currently installing new information boards about the livestock, setting out how they improve the ground for biodiversity, carbon storage and water flow as well. The boards will also explain how the animals behave, notably the rare breed cattle, what’s normal and what to do if you have any concerns.
To accommodate the wider use of livestock, we are installing new stock fencing where needed. In planning this, we have worked closely with North Northamptonshire Council to ensure that any new bridleway gates are erected lawfully and to a high standard.
Further information about the project will follow as we start to implement the agreed works and develop an external communications strategy. If you would like to join our mailing list for regular updates about the work we are doing, please email: kate@bulwick.com to add you name to the list.
2023 Project Summary