At Tatton Estate, we believe our landscapes must work for the present while protecting the future. That’s why we are leading one of Cheshire’s most ambitious reforestation projects, creating new woodlands that will transform fragmented blocks of trees into connected, thriving habitats.
A Landscape-Scale Vision
The Tatton Estate is home to 225.56 hectares of woodland, and since 2021, we’ve been expanding this with three new woodland areas covering 23.53 hectares as part of the Trees for Climate Woodland programme, in partnership with The Mersey Forest.
This pioneering initiative has seen around 38,000 trees planted, creating wildlife corridors on a scale that includes doubling existing cover along the eastern boundary of Tatton Park. The result? A more resilient landscape, rich in biodiversity, carbon capture and natural beauty.
Our active five year maintenance plan, delivered through a mixture of volunteers, local contractors and in-house teams has seen the young trees cared for at least three times a year. This intervention is crucial at this early vulnerable stage, which has delivered some of the highest success rates seen across the country. Success rates at Broad Oak are at 97% with phase two at 95%.
This year, the hot summer and drought posed a real risk to the plantations. Our team made dynamic and quick decisions to water which paid dividends, with two of our plantations, Park and Kell, only experiencing 7% losses. We decided to bring the weed maintenance forward from autumn to late summer, which means the trees have benefited now the rain has returned, rather than the weeds and their deeper roots.
Connecting Woodland, Strengthening Nature
The first phase began with Broad Oak Wood, just off the Estate’s eastern boundary, alongside new planting in Arden and along riparian river zones. Phase two, delivered in 2024, focused on linking riparian zones with expanded woodland cover around Arden House.
In January 2025, work began on 16.28 hectares of new woodland and 440 metres of hedgerow, with 19,540 mixed-species trees planted. Every detail was designed with sustainability in mind: biodegradable tree guards are used throughout, and trials are underway using natural materials such as sheep’s wool.
Collaboration with EA Technology: A Pioneering Pilot
Broad Oak Wood was delivered by a pioneering pilot project with EA Technology as part of the DEFRA Trees for Climate programme.
Together, we planted more than 13,000 new trees off Broad Oak Lane in Mobberley, linking Square Wood on the Estate with adjoining Tatton Park woodland. This ambitious planting not only connects ancient and sporting woodlands but also creates vital new wildlife corridors, enhances biodiversity, and will offset around 1,600 tonnes of carbon over the next 25 years.
This collaboration demonstrates the power of landowners and industry leaders working side by side to deliver ambitious climate solutions. It has also set a model for how natural capital and green investment opportunities can provide new revenue streams for farmers and landowners, while helping the country move towards carbon zero.
Protecting Rare Trees with Chester Zoo
At the heart of the project is the conservation of one of Britain’s most endangered native timber trees: the Black Poplar. Fewer than 400 remain in Cheshire, with only 600 female trees nationwide.
Working in partnership with Chester Zoo, we’ve planted five Black Poplars across the Estate, including one of the rarest genetic strains, with only a single wild relative left. By securing their place in our 36.79-acre new woodland, we are giving these historic trees, once prized for their resilience and fire-resistant qualities, a future for generations to come.
Local Contractors, Local Pride
Every stage of the Woodland Creation Project has been delivered by Cheshire-based specialists, putting more than £100,000 into the local economy in 2025 alone. From tree planting to fencing and ecological oversight, contractors have brought invaluable expertise and pride in knowing their work will be enjoyed by future generations.
With future climates being unpredictable, this ability for intervention is something our team is incredibly proud of. Our workforce, whether volunteers, contractors or in-house teams are all local, within 30 minutes of the Tatton Estate. This enables us to support the local economy, help the creation of stable jobs and future opportunities for our suppliers. It also ensures we are keeping the indirect carbon outlay low with this policy.
Partners include Robinson Forestry Ltd, CLECO Ltd, Stockdale Fencing, and Chelford Farm Supplies, with oversight from Tatton Estate Food, Farming and Environment MD, Annette McDonald.
Cleco
Volunteers at the Heart
Alongside professional teams, volunteers play a vital role. The Trafford Wildlife Group cares for young trees through regular maintenance days, while the Bollin and Birkin Fishing Club – the oldest in the country – helps safeguard river health, monitoring nutrients, tackling invasive species, and repairing banks. This collaboration ensures our new woodlands are nurtured from the ground up.
We are also working with schools and uniform groups, like the Scouts, to support natural regeneration after such a dry year. This year, we will be working with the groups to collect acorns and replant them following such a dry year. This also helps educate children about trees and climate change.
Future collaborations will also seek to include local NHS and GP surgeries to explore ways in which we can support the natural health service. If there are any community groups or schools with project ideas, then please get in touch.
Certified and Sustainable
The Estate’s five woodland management plans have already been awarded Grown in Britain Certification, recognising sustainable woodland management through five dedicated plans. This new planting builds on that legacy, contributing to habitat restoration, biodiversity enhancement, and carbon offsetting.
Trails
Within our woodland planting areas, we are also conducting natural regeneration trials by creating new areas. This enables us to monitor how these grow alongside the new plantations and if there are any differences in species or density.
Looking Ahead
The Woodland Creation Project is one of the Estate’s most ambitious environmental commitments to date. As the woodlands grow, so too will the opportunities for wildlife, carbon capture, and community engagement.
From local contractors to endangered trees, from riverside habitats to rare poplars, every part of this initiative reflects our vision: to protect the future for generations to come while strengthening our local landscapes today.
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You can find out more about The Mersey Forest here.