The Estate comprises 1000 acres of agricultural land, primarily used for organic milk and beef production, 400 acres forestry, 34 kilometres of hedgerows and 14 kilometres of public footpaths.
Farming
We farm nearly 800 acres in hand on an organic system, milking cows, rearing youngstock and finishing some cross bred beef animals. We believe in combining productive food production with conservation of the natural environment. Our cows graze outside for as much of the year as possible and in winter are housed and fed on organic silage made on the estate.
The farms straddle the border between England and Wales and we are committed to meeting the environmental targets of both Governments. We are carrying out numerous activities in order to do so including Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier where we take land out of cultivation to protect Scheduled Ancient Monuments and also plant wild bird cover.
Forestry
We manage 400 acres of woodland on the estate, overlooking the Rivers Ceiriog and Dee, most of this is mixed hardwood forest, which is part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The trees are managed to provide continuous tree cover to preserve the views of the Valleys. The harvested timber is primarily used for firewood or Biomass. We are lucky to have many specimen oak, yew and other hardwood trees planted and cherished by previous generations of the family.
Biomass
Since 2008 Brynkinalt Hall and Brynkinalt Business Centre have been heated by woodchip produced from our own woodland. Nigel, our forester, harvests the timber and arranges the wood chipping. As a result heating is sustainable and any area of woodland felled is replanted.
Logs
We sell firewood locally to people who are on our customer list. Nigel harvests the trees and these are then dried naturally for 12 months before being processed into logs. We sell approximately 500 bags a year, ensuring that we manage our woodland on a sustainable basis.
Sporting
We run a small commercial pheasant shoot based on traditional values with countryside conservation at its core. Parties stay in Brynkinalt Hall, having the chance to enjoy a house party with close friends.
The Ceiriog Valley was described by Prime Minister David Lloyd George as “a little bit of heaven on earth”, how true. We let the fishing on River Ceiriog to the Corwen and District Angling Club, who in turn help the estate with River maintenance and conservation projects. www.corwenanddistrictanglingclub.co.uk.
Riding
We have miles of woodland tracks on the estate and field margins, a safe, beautiful and traffic free place to ride. We have a riding club which local enthusiasts can join and share the beautiful countryside.
Sustainability
The estate is committed to the sustainable management of its assets. Renewable energy in the form of biomass is used at Brynkinalt Hall and the Business Centre, the land is farmed organically and conservation of both the landscape and the built environment is at the core of everything we do.
We have started the process of monitoring the carbon footprint of our agricultural operation to ensure we are sequestering as much carbon as possible. In the last 5 years we have planted more than 10,000 trees.
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