Our work
What we do
Look out for a variety of birds, including egrets and peregrine falcons
© Nigel Hester
The Holnicote estate covers 12,450 acres and on it there are nearly 200 places to be conserved. Our team are responsible for making sure that the countryside and buildings are looked after for future generations to enjoy.
Cottage conservation
Thatching
Many of the cottages on the estate are thatched. The thatch needs to be replaced every few years.
We work alongside professional thatchers.
Lath and plaster
The buildings are conserved using a method called lath and plaster. This involves attaching laths, or narrow strips of wood, to the ceiling. The lime-based plaster is applied on top.
It takes days to dry, but using these natural materials lets the walls breathe.
Wonderful windows
Geoff our carpenter uses traditional joinery methods to create different shaped and sized windows for the cottages.
Geoff uses some tools that are over 100 years old, as they still do the job perfectly.
The building team
Many of the cottages on the estate are listed. It's vital that we continue to use traditional methods to conserve them. Our building team modernise them to make them lovely places to live, while conserving their history.
Nature conservation
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Moorland grazing
The moorland is grazed by sheep, cattle and Exmoor ponies. Their constant nibbling is the natural version of a lawn mower. It's a vital part of maintaining the open, wild landscape of the moor.
Without it, the land would revert back to scrub and woodland.
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Woodland grazing
Horner Wood is traditionally grazed by sheep and red deer. By eating the young shrubs, they keep the woodland light and airy, ensuring that rare lichens on the ancient tree trunks don't get shaded out.
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Swaling
We burn different patches of heather and gorse each year, so there's always a mix of habitats for a wide range of wildlife. This process is called swaling.
Some insects will only thrive in short grass, while most upland birds need older heather for nesting.
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Sometimes we do nothing
In the woodlands, we leave dead wood where it falls, to provide homes and food for insects. The insects are then a tasty meal for birds, bats and other mammals.
Dead wood encourages the growth of fungi. More than 440 kinds grow on the estate.
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Coastal management
In the past, attempts have been made to prevent the sea from breaching the shingle ridge around Porlock Bay.
When the beach was breached by a ferocious storm in 1996, it led to the creation of a precious saltmarsh. The site has become a nationally important example of how we can work with nature.