Transforming Great Chalfield

A partnership between the National Trust and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust aims to create a model of sustainable land management and regenerative farming at Great Chalfield Manor.

The National Trust and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust have formed a groundbreaking partnership to transform the farm at Great Chalfield Manor into a thriving hub for nature’s recovery and regenerative farming. This exciting collaboration is of particular significance for Bradford on Avon Preservation Trust, as the manor is the family home of our president, Robert Floyd. Robert is also Patron of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, and his father was one of WWT’s founding members.

A total 140 hectares of arable, pasture and farmland at Great Chalfield will be managed in partnership between the partner charities, including a collaboration with the Great Western Community Forest, which is supporting the acquisition of the land and the planting of around 11,000 trees. The aim is to develop a learning hub where farmers and landholders can learn how to develop a range of nature-based solutions.

Creating species-rich grassland and hedgerows, wood pasture and ponds will help to tackle the nature and climate crisis and access new markets for environmental services as part of a regenerative farming system that prioritises soil health.

This exciting partnership between the National Trust and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust sets a promising precedent for sustainable land management, proving that it’s possible to balance the needs of nature, climate, and food production while creating a thriving and resilient landscape for future generations.