New project underway to restore wood pasture at Hardwick Hall

Father and son tenant farmers the Ottewells, who have been farming the Hardwick land for 82 years, will be working even more closely with the National Trust on a major tree planting and priority habitat creation scheme across stretches of land totalling the size of around 111 football pitches.

Hardwick rangers will work with the farmers to deliver the scheme over the next two years in which the land will be transformed from crop growing to wood pasture.

Around 1,184 native tree species including oak, hawthorn, holly and field maple will be planted, providing a home for a wide range of wildlife including buzzards, great spotted woodpeckers and red foxes.

The extended wood pasture will also provide the local community access to more green space and further opportunity to connect with nature.

Hardwick Hall was built by Bess of Hardwick in the 16th century and the work carried out during this scheme will see the landscape change to be closer to how Bess would have seen it during her time.

Tenant farmer Tom Ottewell said: “This is an exciting time for our family as this project begins and the first trees are planted.

“As a family who have been National Trust tenant farmers for four generations, we have a great relationship and look forward to working even closer with the team at Hardwick to support the trust’s climate change and biodiversity targets.

Ian Hunt, gardens and outdoors manager at Hardwick, added: “It is recognised that the creation of woodland is an important part of the changes to land use needed to mitigate against the nature crisis

“As well as helping with flood prevention, woodlands provide homes for all sorts of nature and wildlife.

“The new and improved large areas of wood pasture will not only help create a better landscape around Hardwick but will also make it an even better place for people to come for physical and spiritual refreshment.”