Natural Environment

Conservation and Amenity

Examples of projects undertaken within this budget include:

Contributions towards tenants’ involvement in Countryside Stewardship Schemes
Amenity tree planting across the estate
Stone walling projects, particularly on Dartmoor
Lake and pond restoration works
Repairs to buildings using traditional materials such as cob
Visual enhancement schemes at Princetown, Dartmoor
Expenditure to protect the environment of ground-nesting wading birds

Example projects

The Linhay at Bradninch

Following the surrender of a farm tenancy, the Duchy removed all inappropriate redundant modern buildings. The cob linhay was in very poor condition and had lost its original roof timbers and a substantial section of the cob walling.

The reconstruction of the linhay utilising traditional techniques was considered to be a worthy conservation project as few examples remain in Devon. The cob walls were repaired and rebuilt utilising cob blocks and the walls were lime rendered.

The timber frame was unfortunately beyond repair but the structure was reformed in green oak to match the original. All timber was supplied from Duchy of Cornwall Woodlands and the woodworkers are Duchy tenants.

The roof was thatched with wheat straw which was the traditional local material rather than water reed which is now imported and widely used for its longevity.

Cornish hedge at Arrallas, Cornwall

The previous tenants of this farmhouse had created a roadside parking space and built a concrete block retaining wall. On top of this wall a timber boarded fence had been erected to provide some privacy. The structure was unsightly, unsound, and out of keeping with the heritage of the surrounding lanes.

The new Cornish hedge was built as a continuation of the original field boundary line. The width at the base of the hedge allows a natural transgression between the higher road level and the path adjacent to the building. Grass was planted to form a ‘weather’ top to the hedge. In time wild flowers and grasses will establish themselves in the joints between the stones.

Lake and pond restoration/Tree planting and hedge laying

Redbrook Lake 2005. Works underway on the £40,000 refurbishment of a lake as part of The Duchy of Cornwall Countryside Stewardship Scheme for this farm. The net funding after a 50 percent DEFRA grant coming from the Duchy’s amenity budget.