Ancient Beauty: The Woodland of Chatsworth Estate

The estate includes over 3,700 acres of woodland, including over 1,300 acres of semi-natural or ancient woodland. Some woodland is used to make wood for building and firewood. The semi natural and ancient woodland is managed for wildlife. 

Ten thousand years ago, Britain was completely covered in oak, beech and lime trees. There is very little ancient woodland left as a result of human expansion, the rise of fenced farmland and livestock grazing, and the use of wood as fuel during times of war and industrial advancement.

This type of woodland has high biodiversity – it contains many different plants and animals, and so is protected where possible.

In the 1830s, the owner of the Chatsworth Estate – the 6th Duke of Devonshire – was one of the first to plant a pinetum and arboretum. He did this in partnership with Joseph Paxton, the head gardener of Chatsworth for 32 years. 

Paxton was responsible for many of Chatsworth’s most famous gardening triumphs. He cultivated the Cavendish banana, named after the family who lived on the estate. This banana became the most widely consumed type of banana in the western world.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, British botanists explored many different parts of the world. They brought back seeds and seedlings of plants not known to western scientists, such as this Douglas fir, named after Scottish botanist David Douglas.

This group of students is learning about biodiversity in woodlands and why it is important. This includes the delicate interaction of different groups of flora and fauna, like beetles, mosses and lichen, and rare birds. 

Rare birds, like the lesser-spotted woodpecker, live in these forests. Visitors with a keen ear can recognise their signature hammering noise as they drum their beaks into the tree trunks to look for food.

At Chatsworth Estate, the many acres of land cover a variety of managed gardens and woodland, including grassy parkland, ancient woodland, an arboretum and commercial softwood forestry. Softwood refers to the type of wood that is being cut, not to the actual hardness of the wood

These trees provide an income for Chatsworth Estate, as this timber can be sold and made into furniture, or used as a building material.

Foresters work in many ways to assess the health of a tree. Sometimes they climb it, using special equipment, to check for the presence of deadwood. They also check for rot or diseases, which could spread to other trees nearby.

Caring for ancient woodland and running a successful commercial forestry industry are 2 very different ways of managing the land. Both are done on the Chatsworth Estate. Ancient woodland is managed to support wildlife and produce a small amount of high-quality wood. 

Commercial forestry focuses on fast-growing trees, like spruce or pine. These are grown from seed or sapling and harvested when they are large enough.

Commercial forestry works a little like farming – if managed well, it can be a way of making money without damaging the environment. It provides good jobs for those who want to work in the countryside and boosts the local economy.