Project

Killerton-a place for people and nature

Killerton house taken from the air — Killerton House | © Ewins Aerial Photography

Killerton is the Trust's most popular house and garden in Devon, and we've seen visitor numbers more than double in the last decade. In the next ten years we could easily see current demand double again, taking us to a million visitors across the whole property.

Where are we now?

With a keen eye on conservation, we want to be ready to welcome a wide range of new and existing communities and find diverse ways for everyone to feel part of this place.

Fundamental to our vision is looking after land and buildings and protecting what's special. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We're lucky to be able to take a long-term view to ensure we continue to care for the estate's built and natural heritage.

We will do this by creating a range of connected destinations and activities across the estate and making big plans for nature. This is the vision and ambition for the destination estate.

What we've achieved

Over 250,000 trees planted
Worked in partnership with the Woodland Trust, West Country Rivers Trust, FWAG SW and 15 farm tenants.
3 community forests at Elbury, Columbjohn and Beare Farms.
Restored ancient woodland and protected ancient trees, planting over 600 vetran trees of the future.
Replanted 15km of hedgerow that will encourage bees to pollinate and provide food for nature
Restored floodplains along the River Culm, creating new wetland habitats and improved landscape resilience.

What are our aims?

Everything we do is with conservation on mind. Looking to the future; we'd like to add to our work and:

Restore or create 1,200 hectares of priority habitat across the estate, ensuring areas for nature are bigger, better and more joined up.
Create new opportunities for people to connect and care for nature, promoting health and wellbeing.
Utilise nature-based solutions to mitigate the impact of climate change. Minimise the use of man-made fertilisers and pesticides.
Create a sustainable transport network using low carbon options such as public transport and e-bikes.
Establish new green corridors to nearby communities for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders.
Diversify the estate economics creating new business opportunities and employment e.g. events, functions, retail/farm shop.
Work collaboratively with local communities and build partnerships for positive change.

Rows and rows of newly planted trees as part of a restoration project in the grounds at Killerton, Devon — Woodland restoration planting at Killerton | © National Trust Images / Fi Hailstone

Killerton in the community

Exeter and East Devon are changing.

With 50,000 new homes being built in the local area, Killerton connects largely rural land to the north with a growing city to the south.

The Estate is largely undesignated land, presenting an exciting opportunity to serve the growing population, increasing access to the countryside and our connection to nature. We want everyone to feel welcome, just as the Acland's wished.

Map of the Killerton estate | © National Trust

What's been happening?

April 2025

Connecting Communities

Exciting news for the Killerton estate. We're thrilled to report that our bid to South Western Railways for a feasibility study for a pedestrain railway bridge at Cranbrook has been successful. This amounts to a grant of £42k, estimated at 80% of the total project costs £52.4k. Thanks also go to East Devon Council and Devon County Council for their financial contributions to the project

This is a really important first-step into significantly improving sustainable access onto the Estate, not just for the growing community at Cranbrook, but also for other communities along the railway line, such as Exeter or Honiton.