Historic Great Chalfield Manor embarks on green transformation

THE National Trust and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust have formed a groundbreaking partnership to transform the farm at Great Chalfield Manor near Broughton Gifford into a thriving hub for nature’s recovery and regenerative farming. 11,000 trees will be planted as part of the initiative.

The collaboration marks a new chapter for the historic estate, which has been in the care of the National Trust since 1943, when the manor and part of the estate was gifted to the heritage and conservation charity, with around 20,000 people visiting the medieval manor and garden each year.

Alongside the announcement of this new partnership, the National Trust has acquired a further 33 hectares (82 acres) of land to ensure the countryside setting of the farm is protected for decades to come.

An additional collaboration with the Great Western Community Forest will see 11,000 trees planted in a way that integrates them into the farming system as woodland blocks, agroforestry and wood pasture for climate resilience.

The farm and estate are currently cared for by the original donor’s grandson Robert Floyd and his wife Patsy who have also farmed the land for several decades in a nature-friendly way.   

Due to their upcoming retirement from farming, the National Trust has acquired this farmland to extend the wider estate within its care and has announced plans to lease 138 hectares (340 acres) to the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.  This partnership is particularly meaningful as Robert Floyd’s father, Charles, was one of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s founders.

“The aim for the land is to develop a learning hub where farmers and landholders can learn how to develop a range of nature-based solutions,” says the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.

“This will include the creation of species-rich grassland and hedgerows, wood pasture and ponds to tackle the nature and climate crisis and access new markets for environmental services as part of a regenerative farming system that prioritises soil health.

“It will also allow the two charities to demonstrate how farmers can unlock new sources of Green Finance like Biodiversity Net Gain by integrating nature-based projects in their farming system creating new income streams for landowners and farmers while also regenerating the soil, improving climate resilience and supporting nature’s recovery.”

The manor and garden will continue to open to visitors, welcomed by Robert and Patsy on behalf of the National Trust.

Robert Floyd said, “My late father used to say – ‘It all starts with the plants’, so this is a wonderful opportunity now to create positive interaction between nature and our farming communities.

“This new partnership will demonstrate how cost-effective arable and livestock farming can flourish alongside creating and caring for resilient habitats and increasing biodiversity.  This will build on the work we’ve been doing for half a century where we have created and maintained wildlife corridors and habitats on the farm.

“With sustainable farming initiatives, there will be opportunities to generate income through biodiversity net gain, and to plant more trees and hedgerows, where appropriate, but especially trees on the poorer, less productive land which will help absorb carbon, and create new homes for nature.”

Ian Wilson, National Trust director of operations for Wiltshire and Dorset said, “Great Chalfield will become a place where nature can continue to thrive, where tree planting will help address the challenges of climate change and where people will be able to come to see first-hand how our land can be managed for nature and food production.”

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s plan is to balance the needs of nature’s recovery, climate resilience and food production at Great Chalfield, and to support farmers to understand the new incentive framework for nature-friendly farming.  It believes that the scheme can help restore the abundance of much-loved farmland birds like skylarks, yellowhammers, lapwing and grey partridge.

Joanna Lewis, chief executive the trust said, “This collaboration brings Wiltshire Wildlife Trust back to the family home of our former chair, whose father was one of the Trust’s founders.

“Great Chalfield has always been a special place, where space is made for nature in the farmed landscape.  One of our aims is to create a learning hub for nature-friendly farmers, showcasing how nature and trees can be an integral part of a regenerative farming system, and how green finance can help make that profitable too.”

In partnership with the Great Western Community Forest, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust will immediately start work on the tree-planting initiative. WWT has an active body of over 2,000 volunteers who support their work including tree-planting initiatives. For more information and to get involved, visit www.wiltshirewildlife.org/volunteering

Pictured above: An aerial view of the farmland; National Trust Images James Beck