Stewardship - Protecting the Long-Term Value

The Crown Estate is keenly aware of its responsibility to protect the long-term value of its holdings and the well-being of those who make their living from it. Working in partnership with our managing agents, our customers and tenants, we aim to improve the social and environmental standards of the estates and minimise the impact of our activities.

Our commitment to sustainable development is underpinned by three core values - commercialism, integrity and stewardship.

The rural estate includes a range of activities across the UK; agriculture, forestry, minerals, Welsh commons and residential properties. Conscious of our role as guardians of such a diverse portfolio, we are constantly seeking to identify stewardship programmes across our estates, relying on the good communication we have with our tenants.

We have prepared an environmental plan for each of our estates categorising physical, environmental and statutory data. This allows us to develop an environmental agenda which recognises the characteristics of the estate and create opportunities for increased biodiversity.  These plans are developed in partnership with our tenants.

There are numerous stewardship programmes currently in operation, including:

• Continuing association with the Hawk and Owl Trust in maintaining owl boxes on a large number of estates across the country. For more information about the latest project please see the owl webcam press release.
• Diversification providing uses for traditional buildings, thus offering protection against further damage, deterioration or removal.
• Piloting trials of renewable fuels for domestic and business property, such as the bio-fuel plant at The Crown Estate’s Glenlivet office, and solar panels on cottages on the Fochabers estate.
• Fochabers Burn community project – an area of land transferred to community ownership.
• Protection of the Drumin Castle heritage site, including provision of local interest area, access and short circular route walk on the Glenlivet estate.
• The award of the Green Tourism Award at Glenlivet. For further information, please visit our press release.
• Working with tenants to preserve last working example of mediaeval strip farming system on the Laxton estate.
• An ongoing community role at Portland, and support of provisional application of Portland sculpture trust to National Lottery Fund.
• Financial, professional and material assistance in restoration of the old Wharf Crane on the Kennet, Savernake estate.
• At Old Mines, Wales, over £290,000 spent on public safety and community works, heritage groups and statutory bodies consultation.
• Encouragement of well over 100 tenants to enter the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.
• Creation of permissive public access through all Crown Estate woodlands.
• Maintenance of UK Woodland Assurance Standard on all woodlands and forests.

For more information about these or other rural stewardship schemes, please contact:

Danny Connolly
Rural Estate
The Crown Estate
16 New Burlington Place
London
W1S 2HX

telephone 020 7851 5195
email Danny Connolly