Gotwick Manor Estate is a family-owned and run Estate on the border of East Sussex, Surrey and Kent.
Varied backgrounds and interests within the family including engineering, woodland ecology and property management all integrate (…not always smoothly) to form a diverse team in which to build and manage a haven for both wildlife and people.
The Estate places sustainability, nature and community at its heart. Recent advancements including the installation of ground- and air-source heat pumps, solar panel arrays and battery storage are increasing the sustainability of properties. While across the land, planting new hedgerows and establishing wildflower meadows are helping to improve habitat quality and increase biodiversity.
The Estate
The woodland throughout the Estate is generally characterised as standards with coppice. Large standards, predominantly Oak and Beech, are selectively removed from time to time to allow room for others to grow and increase light levels to the forest floor. This increased light penetration to the forest floor is essential in order to support the coppice underneath. Our woodland coppice is harvested in long rotations and forms a varied habitat structure which supports a wide array of flora and fauna. In addition, we retain a high percentage of dead wood (both standing and on the ground). This means a slight reduction in firewood yields however provides a valuable habitat to support an abundance of woodland life.
A lack of woodland management is widely acknowledged to be one of the most significant negative impacts on UK woodland ecology.
We believe that wood harvested from sustainably managed forests and sold locally provides a great low carbon product. For example, using local oak timber for construction, or firewood for heating, are great alternatives to other less sustainable sources which have been transported from further afield. What’s more, your purchase directly feeds back to support the ongoing management of a woodland for biodiversity conservation. Take a look at our products on offer from the woodland at our Online Store.
Forestry
Our flock of Mule sheep live out all year eating only grass and forage produced on the farm. We implement a regenerative grazing system with an aim to improve soil health and increase carbon sequestration while producing healthy and happy lambs. For fresh farm meat delivery, take a look at our Meat Boxes.
We also hold back some fields for making hay and haylage to supply local horse livery yards as well as forage for our livestock when required in the winter months. We make a range of bales in different sizes for sale. If you require a certain amount of forage baled at a particular size, get in touch with us early in the season so we can make to order.
