Intro to Gotwick Manor Estate
Located on the outskirts of East Grinstead, Gotwick Manor Estate is a family-run farm where sustainability, nature and community is placed at our heart. The Estate has a strong focus on biodiversity conservation and a desire to make a positive difference for both people and our environment. At the same time we are also an active farm and we see no reason why farming and conservation can’t work hand in hand. We pride ourselves in taking great care of the land and the animals on it. You can find out more about the farm produce we offer as well as our other services online: www.gotwickmanorestate.com.
The Estate compromises an equal split between grassland and woodland. The grassland is managed through the regenerative grazing of our flock of sheep. While in the woodland, continual management and selective thinning of trees maximises habitat diversity which in turn helps support a rich array of flora and fauna. Through the process of gradually thinning trees we are also able to produce highly sustainable firewood which we sell as split, seasoned logs in large bulk bags and small sack bags. We also have small net bags of kindling and eco-friendly firelighters available online.
Across the Estate there is a mix of residential and commercial properties, livery yards, and fishing lakes. 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 wildflowers meadows are helping to improve habitat quality and increase biodiversity.
During refurbishment works, existing infrastructure and materials have been reused or repurposed wherever possible. For example, an indoor swimming pool, located in one of the barns was dated and inefficient. Rather than removing it, all rainwater collected from nearby roofs was redirected to the pool and it now serves as a rainwater storage tank. This water sits just 10m away from the walled garden and therefore serves as a perfect source to pump back for irrigation.
Work in the walled garden is endless and the Estate is always happy to have some helping hands. So if you fancy getting your hands dirty, doing a bit of weeding, pruning, flower cutting, veg picking then get in touch with us. In exchange we will supply you with tea, coffee, biscuits and you can take some produce away with you. From time to time we also have other volunteering opportunities. For example, last year we planted over 1600m of hedgerow (over 9000 trees). Follow us on social media to receive the latest updates on upcoming events.
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading a little snippet into the work and life on Gotwick Manor Estate and we hope to see you soon.
Published online at Town Crier December 2025 issue