Protecting the Countryside for future generations
As a foreword to the Dawnay Estates’ brochure is a quote from Lord Downe “The Estates are managed with a long term view which includes an acute recognition of the responsibility to maintain the environment…” So is this reality or a mere collection of words?
Standing back for a moment, it becomes very obvious that apart from Wykeham Abbey itself, one of the very main essentials which lies at the heart of the Dawnay Estates’ existence is the environment and its management. The Estate’s commitment is evidenced by a Gold David Bellamy award at St Helens Caravan Park, a Restoration Award at Wykeham Lakes and Quarry, the shoots at Wykeham (pheasant and partridge) and Danby (Grouse), field margins and boundary restoration on Wykeham Farms, woodland management and planting, and the built environment and skills that go with the restoration of listed buildings. The environment plays an extremely important part, in that over half of the Estates’ 20,000 acres are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest and there are over 125 scheduled ancient monuments to include Wykeham Abbey and Danby Castle. It is indeed a reality and one that carries much responsibility.
So what of the details? Here are a few examples that serve to give some evidence:
 Wykeham Farms
A Countryside Stewardship scheme was awarded in 2001 which has resulted in 50 acres of field margins, 19 miles of hedging and 2 miles of stone walls on the 2,500 acres managed by Wykeham Farms. An Entry Level Stewardship scheme also provides for 25 acres of grassy field corners, 20 acres of grass margins and 20 acres of wild bird covers. The field margins have provided an excellent habitat for nesting birds and the expanding hedgerows for insects and berries for songbirds. Wykeham Farms is also doing its bit for energy conservation as a grower of Miscanthus (Elephant grass) which supplies Drax Power Station with a proportion of its 10% requirement to burn non-fossil fuels.
Forestry
Continuing management of the existing coniferous and broadleaf woodlands together with a gradual phasing in of a greater percentage of broadleafs. Planting continues with the recent establishment of the 10 acre ‘Revenge’ wood (one of the series of Trafalgar woods planted in 2005). Like many Estates there is a marvellous opportunity to create ‘carbon credits’ to assist in the offsetting of the more industrial polluters.
The Built Environment
The Estate has developed training in the traditional skills for the repair and refurbishments of the many houses and cottages on the two Estates. Many are listed and require considerable care in their restoration. Sustainability is the new catchword and the recent restoration of the Bothy (now the headquarters of Wykeham Mature Plants) is a good example with its condensing central heating boiler and maximum use of the glasshouses to create additional heat in the winter, and ventilation in the summer.
Sporting
The development and management of the shooting and fishing forms a catalyst which pulls together and funds so much of the improvement in environmental management. The creation of nesting sites (grass field margins), cover crops, open glades in the woodland, bracken and gorse control, vermin control, winter feeding and hedgerow management, are just some examples of habitat creativity which ensures a promising shoot and at the same time an improving environment for so many other species such as grey partridge, lapwing and curlew.
The creation of the fishing lakes has created an overwintering base for wildfowl as well as a breeding ground for other waterfowl such as grebes. Otters have also established themselves, (even if they do cause a certain management headache for the fishery manager).
 St Helens Caravan Park
This 52 acre park for 250 touring caravans has also played its part, as has been demonstrated by a Gold David Bellamy award for its commitment to the environment. The Park, a former sand quarry, benefits from lots of wild uncut banks and small woodland glades which has helped it to achieve the award.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
The whole of the Danby Moors (11,000 acres) and Ruston Cow Pasture (98 acres) are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Management is primarily aimed at producing grouse numbers on the moors and stock on the Cow Pasture, but this goes hand in hand with a high degree of input into creating a suitable habitat for merlin and golden plover at Danby and orchids at Ruston Cow Pasture. Much of the management input is from the five keepers employed on the Estates working closely with Natural England and the National Park – a new role perhaps for the more traditionally perceived requirements of game management.
The Environment in its very widest sense is intricately woven into everything that the Dawnay Estates does. The benefits are enormous both in terms of re-creating several different natural habitats and to the maintenance of a beautiful landscape that everyone can enjoy. Much of the cost is borne by the Estates partly as a means of ensuring the viability of the businesses but also to support the Estates’ long term view of maintaining the environment and some wonderful countryside for future generations.
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Welcome to . . .
Danby Moors Centre 
