Across the UK, farms are transforming from places of production into centres of healing – offering yoga in fields, sound baths in barns, and nature retreats that nurture both people and the land.... read more
May is here, and with it comes one of our favourite times of year on the estate. The hedgerows are frothing with cow parsley, the birds are in full voice, and the chalk hills are beginning to flush with the first flickers of colour that make this landscape so special.... read more
Winter is often the quietest time on the farm, but for nature it can be one of the most important seasons of the year. While wildlife slows down, it gives us the opportunity to focus on the long-term work that helps habitats thrive – restoring the connections... read more
As we mark World Wildlife Day on 3rd March, it’s a chance to celebrate the extraordinary variety of wildlife recorded across Birling Estate in 2025. From the flower-rich chalk grasslands to ancient woodland and wildlife-friendly farmland, the year brought encouraging... read more
We’re delighted to share that Birling Estate is now a Partner Member of the North Kent Woods and Downs National Nature Reserve – a landmark step in recognising the national importance of this landscape and the collaborative work underway to restore it at scale.... read more
We are delighted to share the results from our 2024 Hazel Dormouse monitoring surveys at Birling Estate, which have been submitted to the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) National Dormouse Monitoring Programme. Hazel Dormice (Muscardinus... read more
Hidden within a woodland copse on Birling Estate, lay the remnants of two historic ponds (recorded on 1870s maps) which had long since been lost to the encroachment of vegetation and the passage of time. Thanks to Natural England, these ponds have now been carefully... read more
Over the past year, we’ve been quietly working on something extraordinary here at Birling Estate – and we’re almost ready to share it with you. Next month, we’ll be officially launching Chalk to Coast, a bold and ambitious project to create Kent’s first large-scale... read more
In 2035, the Nevill family will have been custodians of this piece of land for 600 years and 20 generations. We’ve taken inspiration from our family crest – Ne vile velis – ‘form no mean wish’ to govern our approach to the next phase of the Estate’s... read more
We were all-a-flutter here at Birling Estate late this Summer. In August, three Straw Belle moths were spotted in our chalk grassland SSSI. Why all the fuss? Well, these little beauties are seriously rare. The Straw Belle is an endangered moth species in the UK, found... read more
As the summer sun begins to wane and the survey season draws to a close, we’re thrilled to share some of the exciting and unexpected discoveries our dedicated team of citizen scientists has uncovered on the estate this year. It’s been a season filled with surprises,... read more
Whilst crop walking the bean fields with the agronomist this month our farmer, Tom, noted the beans are looking really well – almost too well. Our approach to regenerative agriculture is transforming the way we think about farming by focusing on sustainability and... read more
With the help of our friends from Medway Valley Countryside Partnership, we’ve installed two Barn Owl nesting boxes on the Birling Estate. These will create safe breeding spaces for barn owls, whose natural habitats are often threatened by urban development and... read more
Birling Estate recently welcomed a group of dedicated citizen scientist volunteers to participate in wildlife surveys. These surveys, a vital part of the estate’s conservation efforts, commenced in the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) chalk grassland... read more
Across 320 acres of our arable fields we have started the latest application of digestate – an organic fertiliser that we’ve used for the past three years as part of our commitment to improving soil health and reducing Birling Estate’s carbon footprint.... read more
Starting this Spring, we are inviting amateur naturalists into Birling Estate to help with the important job of recording plant and animal species. This year Birling Estate is moving into Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship; through this DEFRA scheme we are committing... read more
Exciting news! We’ve recently bought some native and rare breed hill sheep to go on the fields next to the campsite. Mostly Hebridean, with some Manx and Shetland, they are smaller and tougher than your normal white woolly sheep. They are ideally suited to leave out... read more
What is Ash Dieback? Ash dieback is a fungus that was first identified in the UK in 2012 and which is quickly spreading throughout the UK. It is estimated that it will lead to the loss of up to 99% of our native Ash trees. Ash dieback causes branches and eventually... read more
This is Mick. 2023 marked the amazing milestone of 60 years’ service for Estate worker Mick Crittall…he’s quite literally worked here as ‘man and boy’! Mick came to live on the Birling Estate as a very small child, when his dad took on a... read more
And we’re off…! 27,000 vines planted last weekend. The start of something very exciting here at Birling. We’ve partnered with the fabulous @westwellwines to plant 40 acres of vines over the next two years. It will help them to double production and meet their... read more
We’re looking for a hardworking and reliable person to join our team as a Forestry and Landscape Operative/Apprentice. You will have an interest in the countryside and enjoy working outdoors. You will also need to be self-motivated, trustworthy and capable of... read more
An old friend visited at the weekend and asked if we had been rewilding. He had driven through the farm earlier and was now sitting in the garden, enjoying the views and the birdsong. At a time when globally we need to grow more food, good land is at a premium. We are... read more
During 2020 we completed our strategic plan to set the direction for the next 15 years to 2035; when it will be the 600 year anniversary of the estate. It was an opportunity to articulate what we have been working towards for a number of years but had not put down in... read more
We are delighted to announce that our project to build a Wellness Centre within the Victorian Walled Garden at Birling Manor was granted planning permission earlier this year. It is a fantastic opportunity to take a crumbling local heritage asset and turn it into a... read more
It’s been on the cards for a while, but I’m really proud to say that we have signed up Badgells Wood to 1% for the Planet. 1% for the Planet is a global organization that exists to ensure our planet and future generations thrive. It inspires businesses and individuals... read more
You can’t beat a classic village fete; old-school games, tug of war and the perennial favourite, the Birling bake-off ! We been hosting Birling Village Fete in the Manor Gardens for few years, but this was best attended and most enjoyable yet. A huge thank-you to all... read more
Our joint research project has recently been featured in the Timber Trade Journal and also displayed at COP26. Working with London Metropolitan School of Architecture and Grown in Britain, the project is investigating the potential for getting UK-grown Sweet Chestnut... read more
Often described as the ‘rainforest of Europe’, chalk grassland is home to an incredibly rich and diverse range of plant and insect life. Once restored, the wildflower meadows contain up to 40 species of flowering plants per sqm. Many species don’t grow anywhere else,... read more
In 2017, Kent County Council started a new round of plan-making for mineral sites. They put out a ‘call for sites’ to enable them to update the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2013-2030. The plan is there to ensure an ongoing supply of building materials in the... read more
