After nearly four hundred years of stewardship, the family hopes to make Aldenham Estate ecological, accessible and enjoyable for many generations to come. Our crop rotation is now managed in partnership with local family farmers, with several land management schemes aiming to improve soil quality and boost biodiversity. Our rural diversification strategy is focused on projects that enhance sustainability, connectivity and enterprise, in line with green belt planning policy, including the redevelopment of old agricultural barns into quality workspace that supports grass-root businesses.
We have recently expanded our activities into tourism and hospitality. Home Farm Glamping is an example of how low-quality farmland can be repurposed and revived to create a thriving business. Home Farm now hosts thousands of local, British and international guests each year, creating jobs and working with numerous local suppliers to offer an award-winning holiday destination. 2021 saw the launch of At Home Farm, a seasonal programme of music, dining, and theatre and comedy events that proved a huge success with guests.
Home Farm Hub is another example of a sustainable development that will be a great asset to the Estate and the local economy. Planning consent has been granted for the renovation of the Victorian buildings in Aldenham House’s former “model” farm, originally designed by architect William Butterfield at the end of the nineteenth century. This scheme will provide a vibrant, carbon neutral co-working space in a tranquil farm setting, enabling professionals and teams to connect with nature during their working day.
