Editor: Having now read about bird persecutors, on a more positive note, we continue the series about farmers and conservation with a much larger operation - the 22,500-acre Elveden Estate that acts as a wildlife protector. And the scale of this enterprise reveals an impressive balance between farming practices and conservation measures.
Phil Brown, Paul Dickinson and James Holliday1
Elveden Estate a massive commitment to conservation Since the original 15,000 acres were purchased by the first Earl of Iveagh in 1894 the Elveden Estate has undergone a major transformation - from Duleep Singh’s sporting estate, via a major dairy unit pre and post the Second World War, to today’s farm largely dedicated to root crops. But alongside this shooting to farming evolution has come a second transformation - from the nineteenth century sporting venue to, in the twenty-first century, Suffolk’s largest privately-run conservation operation. This transformation stemmed from the second Earl of Iveagh’s 1920s visionary decision to ensure much of Elveden’s land did not disappear under the plough, but remained dedicated to wildlife. Thus these 1
twin but diverse cultures were created and now effectively co-exist alongside each other. With the result that now the Estate comprises a central core of farmland, split by the recently upgraded A11, surrounded by a ‘doughnut’ of natural areas embracing fourteen Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s), twelve County Wildlife Sites (CWS’s), along with numerous woods and copses, heath and acid grassland, all linked by over 100 kms of hedgerows and Brecks pine shelterbelts. Today the Elveden Estate has a 10,000 - acre commitment to conservation, while the remainder of the Estate is a highly successful farm unit that has diversified into several commercial enterprises, including supplying Christmas trees and ‘instant’ hedging, to operating a range of leisure and refreshment venues.
James Holliday and Paul Dickinson lead the Elveden Estate Conservation Team
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