The story so far

Resumed control of the Holkham National Nature Reserve.

Two biomass boilers installed. Contract with Adnams established giving long-term confidence to grow Spring Barley enabling longer crop rotations and forward planning. Belted Galloway cattle introduced to the herd as conservation grazing specialist.

Game department awarded Mills and Reeve Norfolk Grey Partridge Award for conservation excellence. Partnered with Egmere Energy to build anaerobic digester. 100-acre solar farm installed to power over 6,000 homes. Head forester Harry Wakefield appointed to establish a sustainable, continuous cover forestry approach to woodland management.

Solar panels installed on the Beach Cafe, farm barns and irrigation pump houses. Holkham Studios completed with ground source heat pump energy unit.

Farm manager James Beamish appointed with a focus on soil health and sustainable food production. Stables courtyard redeveloped including new exhibition for visitors telling the story of how we manage the landscape and produce sustainable food.

Eco-friendly shower blocks built at Pinewoods Holiday Park – green roofs, water saving taps and solar panels lower their environmental footprint. The Victoria achieved Gold, the highest accolade in Green Tourism Awards. Holkham National Nature Reserve achieved ‘Approved Body’ status from Natural England.

The Lookout opened on the Holkham National Nature Reserve. Farm graduate scheme launched to recruit, train and develop the next generation. Hill Farm restored – the first air source heat pump installed to provide heating. New general manager of conservation, Jake Fiennes, appointed with estate wide remit.

Cattle sheds built in Wells with rain water harvesting reusing rainwater. Silage no longer baled in plastic, but clamped instead. ‘The Great Farm’ project and commitment to sustainable farming trials began.

Sue Penlington, sustainability & learning manager appointed. Pinewoods Holiday Park achieves Conservation Gold in the David Bellamy Conservation Awards for the twentieth year in a row. Holkham’s Sustainability Strategy is launched.

Holkham undertakes two carbon audits – one with the Carbon Trust for leisure businesses and property, and the second with AgriCalc for agriculture and land-based businesses.

Holkham solves the solution for closing the loop on compostable waste for entire estate and other attractions and businesses in Norfolk.

Eight new EV charging points are installed for visitor use.

Our roadmap to become carbon negative is produced. This highlights 12 key projects which will be worked on over the next seven years, focusing on reducing emissions and increasing carbon sequestration.