Volunteers at Chester House Estate
Image
Volunteers at Chester House Estate
Volunteers at Chester House Estate

Natural England Landscape Stewardship Scheme


A Natural England Countryside Stewardship provides financial incentives for farmers, foresters and land managers to look after and improve the environment.



At the Chester House Estate we are pleased to be running a Higher Tier Stewardship Scheme. Our programme started back in January 2019 and was completed in Spring 2021. The programme included introducing and replacing over 3000m of fencing, planting a new orchard in our walled garden, clearing large and dense areas of scrub, creating footpaths with both pedestrian and vehicle gates as well as managing the paddocks with sheep grazing.

Jack Pishhorn, The Chester House Estate Business Manager who was overseeing the delivery of the scheme explained that he "used the funding, awarded by the Government, as an incentive to farmers and land managers to look after and improve the environment. We have created a new entrance to the estate from Claudius Way and cleared all the scrub from the land between the entrance and the house. It means that visitors will be able to walk along the ridge with uninterrupted views of the River Nene and the house, which look stunning.”

Our main aims for the Stewardship Scheme 

  • Wildlife and nature: restoring habitats, providing food and nesting places for birds, insects and other animals creating areas for rare flowering plants and managing hedges.
  • Pollinators: providing pollen and nectar sources, providing nesting places, and making sure the right resources for wild pollinators are where they are most needed.
  • Water/flooding: making water cleaner, reducing the risk of flooding by encouraging changes to farming practice (such as crop management), improving farm infrastructure, and creating woodland.
  • Woodland: funding tree health, the creation of new woodland and supporting the management of existing woodland, and developing management plans.

The Natural England Countryside Stewardship also helps to improve the historic environment, landscape character, genetic conservation, educational access, and reduce the effects of climate changes.