Profile: Denham Estate
Suffolk estate reborn as haven for wildlife A passion for the farmed landscape is paying dividends for the Denham Estate, near Bury St Edmunds.
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farm manager who has planted more than 14,000 trees says that they will benefit the environment and enhance the Suffolk landscape. Matt Driver says he is determined to maximise the ecological credentials of the Denham Estate, near Bury St Edmunds. The 300ha estate includes 180ha of arable enterprises and 62ha of grassland with more than one third of the land managed for the environment. “We’re a business first and foremost but we care passionately about the environment,” explains Matt. “Our goal is to be profitable – but it is also to make improvements all around – to make it a better habitat for wildlife and improve biodiversity.” The Denham Estate was once home
to a substantial fruit orchard – and there are still a number of heritage Bramley apple trees. Today, the main enterprises include a 300-strong herd of fallow deer, 600 sheep and combinable crops.
Matt Driver (right) with the bird seed mix
Sustainable farming In addition to the livestock, the estate grows wheat, barley and oilseed rape – as well as grass for hay and silage, grown to provide home-produced feed. It all contributes to the sustainability of the mixed-farming system. Grassland is very low input, with no applied fertiliser. “We don’t spray it at all – it’s just purely the animals grazing. It is totally unimproved which is an environmental benefit in itself as well as saving money on inputs.”
Purchased by the late Michael Gliksten in the 1980s, the estate is today run by his wife Cecilia. Matt is the only full-time employee working outdoors on the estate – with a focus on environmental management. The arable side is contracted out and livestock are managed externally too. “Our land is fairly heavy, so it’s not suited for vegetables,” says Matt. “Our contractors are George E Gittus – we have regular meetings of course, but they take care of everything and are brilliant.” Once managed in-hand, the deer enterprise is also contracted out. The herd is now owned externally rather 20 ANGLIA FARMER • OCTOBER 2021
