Harold's Grove, Harlow Essex

Sustainable land management with the Countryside Restoration Trust (CRT) at their site in Essex. Harold's Grove is an eight acre piece of woodland that belonged to King Harold of England. It is a fragment of a larger band of ancient woodland, which was once connected to Epping Forest and beyond.

Working with nature

Management over time

Land management and economy

The CRT receive a grant from the Forestry Commission in exchange for managing the woodland. However, due to the charity status and the capabilities of the volunteers, the CRT cannot harvest the timber, thus an outsourced company extract the timber for free, in exchange for the sale of wood. This is an ongoing cycle that both pays for and maintains the ecology of the woodland. The process is arranged into eight rotating 'coops', much like long-term rotational farming, each with varying levels of 'wildness', creating an array of habitat types and a diverse ecological climate.

Clearing a path for timber extraction. The Timber in the foreground are from young trees, that will be extracted by a private company, enabling a clearing for small shrubs and new trees to grow in a dense forest.

The ancient woodland is surrounded by industrial developments including this cucumber factory

CRT Website for more on Harold's Grove: http://www.countrysiderestorationtrust.com/properties/harolds-grove/

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