We invite you to join us on our journey ‘back to the land’ and welcome you to share in nourishing the health & vitality of the land.
As custodians of the land at Combe Grove we are mindful of the vital role we have in conserving and enhancing the landscape. The land provides us with the natural resources that sustain us: food, water, clean air, energy, timber, fiber and minerals. We also derive a sense of wellbeing from spending time in nature that have significant health benefits. We must nurture all living things with care and recover our balance and deep connection to the land.
Since arriving in 2017 we have embarked on a journey to intimately learn about the land, its inhabitants and its history. It’s important for us to understand our context and respond to the needs of the land accordingly.
Across the estate we employ a mixture of traditional and innovative practices including Permaculture design to gently enable the land to support biodiversity and ultimately greater productivity. Permaculture is an ethical design science that facilitates the creation and maintenance of long-term sustainable settlements in a more ecologically balanced way.
We monitor the wildlife that the estate is home to and have adopted wildlife friendly practices of land management. We avoid cutting hedges and felling trees in the bird nesting season. We practice traditional meadow management to allow wild flowers and grass species to develop that in turn support invertebrates, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. We are free from pesticides adopting organic techniques and practices. Our woodland that has largly been unmanaged for many years will be brought back into sustainable woodland management.
As much as we should support wildlife and plants, our natural environment needs to support us. A careful balance will be sought to provide for nature and provide for us. In the coming years we will bring areas under production by establishing a market garden, fruit and nut orchards, an Edible Forest Garden and a physic garden to showcase medicinal plants.
Wildlife, Plants and Trees
For many years the estate grounds have been left to ‘rewild’ which has been good news for wildlife that are thriving here. We frequently glimpse roe deer, rabbits, badgers, foxes, slow worms and grass snakes, and there’s a wonderful variety of insects and birds. This abundance of wildlife is supported by a mosaic of woodland, scrubland, grassland, hedgerows and a large spring that feeds several rivulets within Eastwood. In total we have 64 acres of land, just over half of which is woodland.
We have two Sites of Special Scientific Interest that are home to two endangered animals: The Lesser and Greater Horseshoe Bat. Our bats roost in large mines that are part of the downland plateau of Combe Down, north of the manor house.
We also have two extensive badger setts that could be generations old. The best time to see the badgers is in June and July when the cubs are active above ground. Please enquire at reception and pick up a guide on watching the badgers.
Eastwood is our oldest woodland which is approximately two hundred years old. As this has been unmanaged for some time now, its structural diversity supports many woodland species and a rich diversity of plants and trees. Here you will find our oldest and largest trees including Oak and Beech.
In the height of summer, you will see species rich grassland teaming with insect life and an array of different wildflowers and grasses. Our calcareous soil allows a great diversity of plant species to thrive like no other type of grassland in the UK. From June to July you will find Pyramidal Orchids and Bee Orchids scattered throughout our meadows.
