Brownhouse Farm in Ashleyhay is one of Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest’s largest schemes to date, with 1320 trees and 6885 hedgerow trees (1,345 m) planted across 17.04 hectares. Set within the Derbyshire countryside, the site now links nearby woodland patches and creates new routes and shelter for wildlife along safe green corridors.
Despite having plenty of ideas, the landowners recognised they would need support to navigate the procedures and paperwork involved in tree planting. They reached out to Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest to explore a free tree planting grant, and from there the project quickly took shape. Heartwood led the design and delivery throughout, working closely with the landowners to develop a scheme that supported and encouraged their plans for a greener smallholding.
“Our experience of Heartwood Community Forest has been really positive. They understood the needs of the farm. Then, throughout the process of implementation (it’s quite complicated and there’s a lot to it!) they’ve been really supportive and available. It’s bringing our dreams to fruition much more speedily than we could have ever really hoped for”
Peter Taylor, Landowner at Brownhouse Farm
The design combines traditional oaks with birch, rowan, hazel, and field maple, alongside orchard varieties including cherry, plum and apple. New hawthorn hedgerows define field boundaries, supported by new fencing, gates and protected in-field trees. With Heartwood’s help the land is now ready for the arrival of belted Galloway cows and calves, marking the next step in the farm’s story.
Fully funded and managed by Heartwood, the scheme brings together careful planning, practical gates and fencing, and long-term planting. As the trees and hedgerows establish, they will knit into the wider landscape, showing how thoughtful design can shape both a working farm and a richer setting for nature.
For landowners considering similar changes and perhaps daunted by the paperwork pile, Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest’s free tree planting grants offer a straightforward way to turn plans into reality with support at every stage.
Project Impact
Tree Cover & Carbon
8205 native trees including 1345m of hedgerow contributing to long term carbon storage as the woodland matures
Productivity
Thoughtful planting compartments, newly built corrals, beneficial hedging and edible orchard varieties mean that planting adds to the functionality of the smallholding… to compliment rather than retract from life on the farm
Water & Soil
Extensive hedgerow and tree planting across the sloped areas of the farm help to stabilise soil, slow surface water movement and reduce erosion across open ground
Biodiversity
New native hedgerows provide green corridors for wildlife to use, helping to reduce fragmentation of the Derbyshire countryside and beloved natural landscape that surrounds
Funding
100% grant funded, with all design, coordination, paperwork, and delivery managed by the Heartwood team
