County Farms and the Countryside

 

The existence of a county farms estate is of great benefit to the wildlife and countryside of Norfolk. The less intensive form of agriculture typical of the estate's farms is an important culture to maintain, as privately-owned farms tend to grow to an industrial scale. It has maintained a varied countryside and an attractive landscape, with relatively smaller field sizes and more hedgerows. This helps to make Norfolk a popular destination for tourists who bring money to the region.

 

The estate also helps meet Norfolk County Council's sustainable development commitments through:

 

  • Improving biodiversity by active conservation and new habitat creation
  • Planting of new woodlands and hedgerows, and the restoration of old ones
  • Protection of landscapes and wildlife habitats
  • Creation of new public access footpaths and bridleways
  • Providing land for affordable housing
  • Providing a framework for trade of local produce, goods, and services
  • Sustaining and creating rural employment
  • Developing business opportunities throughout the county
  • Improving and developing access for recreation, education and health.

 

 

Opportunities are currently being explored to establish whether the estate can make a contribution to the production of more sustainable forms of energy, such as bio-ethanol, bio-diesel, biomass, biogas and energy from wind turbines.

 

The County Council is also committed to a programme of continuous improvement to the environment. Over the last few years, over 50 acres of new woodland have been created on the farms estate. This includes community woodlands that can be enjoyed by everyone through the provision of public access.

 

One of the County’s greatest achievements has been the opening up of the 3,100 acre Burlingham Estate near Norwich with a network of footpaths and bridleways crossing open farmland and woodland. This initiative won an Environmental Award from the CPRE Norfolk, the local branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

 

To find out more about public access on the county estate, visit the Norfolk County Council Countryside Access website.