We are very proud of the levels of biodiversity and quantity of different habitats that have developed on the nature reserve – one of our key aims is to preserve and develop these.

The nature reserve has come about through ambitions of the original owner and renowned naturalist Miriam Lane (Nee) Rothschild. Post WW2 she had the idea to leave the 90 acres alone to let it recolonise from the adjacent SSSI woodland (it was also uneconomical to try to return it to arable due to the concrete and leftover buildings). Besides a failed planting scheme in the 1970s, it has otherwise been left alone to do its thing – one of the original rewilding schemes!

As part of your booking, you have full access to roam and explore the private nature reserve. The nature reserve is situated on both sides of the main entrance drive – roughly 45 acres on each side.

A butterfly with orange, black, and white spotted wings perched on a wilted pink flower in a grassy area with purple flowers in the background.
Close-up of curly black and green moss or lichen growing on a surface.
A butterfly with black and white patterned wings perched on a light purple flower with multiple tiny petals, surrounded by green leaves.
Close-up of pale green lichen growing on tree branches, with a blurred natural background.
Close-up of two mushrooms growing on a mossy surface in a forest, with one mushroom in the foreground and the other blurred in the background.
A morel mushroom growing among leaves and grass on a forest floor.
Autumn forest with colorful red and orange leaves, a prominent twisted tree in the center, and fallen branches on the ground.
Wildflowers with purple thistle-like blossoms, green foliage, and a butterfly and a bee on flowers.
A close-up of several moss-covered trees in a forest during daytime, with branches and green foliage against a blue sky with scattered clouds.