Our Environment

Responsible and sustainable management

Our

Environment

The Estate is situated in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. The Estate’s ethos is to uphold the highest environmental principles in all its activities in order to protect and enhance its beauty for future generations to enjoy.

The Estate’s farmland is managed sustainably and much of it is organic. The approach is outlined on Farming.

The Estuary is managed similarly carefully – more information can be found on Estuary & Mooring.

Across the entire estate there are areas of particular environmental interest including ancient woodland, sand dunes, coastal grassland and bracken.

The Estate works with wildlife and countryside organisations to monitor and preserve the flora and fauna.

Recent examples include a study to establish the existence of dormice on the Estate and a study to learn more about the heronry.

Sensitive long term management plans, such as a ten year woodland management plan, ensure that all areas of the Estate continue to thrive.

We have recently completed our Estate Management plan. To see a copy please click here.

Regeneration

The estate woodlands are entered into a 10 year Woodland Management Plan.   Our active management plan of the woodland will help to extend existing woodland, improve those Ancient woodland, maintain biodiversity, encourage natural regeneration and create a robust woodland system.

Started in 2019, when 9000 native woodland species have been planted part of an ongoing scheme of woodland creation. We have since planted another 7000 trees in an effort to link up wildlife corridors in the Estate and create more wildlife habitat.

 

Protection

The Bantham Estate is home to many rare and protected creatures, so understanding their habitat requirements is key to their ongoing protection.

Over 27 UK priority butterflies and moths have been recorded at Bantham as well as 6 of the 17 UK bat species and many important and protected birds such as Cirl Bunting and Yellowhammer. In conjunction with The Devon Wildlife Trust, the Estate is working on the creation of wildlife corridors which are essential to protect all these beautiful creatures.

Biodiversity

We are host to a unique heronry on the banks of the river Avon. It is shared by heron and two species of egret. The site is carefully monitored and protected by the Estate team and is subject to an ongoing ornithological survey so an accurate picture can be built of breeding success and by implication the health of the river and local biodiversity.

Bantham Ham

Our countryside stewardship agreement on the Ham aims to restore species rich grassland and recreate the ancient hay meadow by controlling the brambles and bracken. The grass will be allowed to mature and flower before being cut and removed as hay.

Sand Dunes

The sand dunes are actively managed to prevent the ingress of invasive or non-native species and so allow the unique coastal flowers to establish and flourish. The removal of brambles and bracken also helps to protect any archaeology from root damage.