Tree planting, management, capital funding and income potential

This event, with priority given to Cluster members, is an opportunity to hear about tree planting opportunities in our landscape, with a deep dive from Lord Rotherwick into the Cornbury Estate's objectives for their parkland and woodland. 

We will meet at Watermans Farm, Cornbury Park Estate (What3Words location:  villa.documents.hammocks) and take a tractor and trailer tour through the deer park, looking at mature trees and new avenue plantings. We will then walk the wooded pastures along the River Evenlode floodplain.  

We shall also hear thoughts from Network Rail, who have an interest in protecting their railway line assets - from flood risk to leaves on the line - and have recently completed reinforcement works along the river Evenlode bankside within the estate.  We are in discussion with Network Rail, who are hoping to complete an England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) application on behalf of a group of cluster members, to enable tree planting for greatest returns and benefits.  

On the return journey through the Wychwood Forest, we will consider management options for existing woodland versus new plantations with input from Nicholsons. We shall also discuss other planting opportunities (agroforestry and hedgerows), alternative funding mechanisms and revenue, such as Biodiversity Netgain (BNG) and carbon markets, as well as deer and squirrel management, and landscape/visual considerations of tree planting in the Cotswold National Landscape.

Do stay for a beer back at Watermans Farm and continue conversations. For those who haven’t seen the Cornbury Park Deer Larder there'll be a chance to look around, or find out about the premium wild venison that is sold through Dovecote Park.