Around 90 Friends and their guests met at the York Club on Tuesday 29 October to hear Paul Sedgwick, Deputy Ranger & Managing Director of Windsor & Rural, The Crown Estate, give us an update on what has been happening on the Windsor Estate over the past year.
The Windsor Estate
Paul started by reminding us that the 6600 hectares/16,250 acres of the Estate includes Swinley Forest, Sunninghill Park, the Home Park (public and private), as well as Windsor Great Park itself.
The Estate is ‘to be maintained in its present character as a Royal Park and Forest’, as stated in The Crown Estate Act of 1961. This is becoming increasingly difficult in recent times, with issues such as global warming and the introduction of new technologies, but the Estate has been recognised for environmental and ecological best practice. It is home to the largest collection of ancient trees in northern Europe.
Achievements
Paul went on to detail the many achievements of the year across the Estate. In the Gardens, he highlighted the refurbishment of the Temperate House, the Savill Bank, and the improvements in the Punchbowl. He also congratulated the Garden Team on their successes at RHS competitions.
In Windsor Great Park he mentioned the return of the Royal Windsor Flower Show, the lighting of the D-day beacon and the success of the Windsor Half Marathon, with over a mile of runners on the Long Walk, and the inclusive Parallel Windsor event.
Coronation Plantations
In addition to the 58 trees already planted in the King Charles III Coronation Plantation near the Royal School, work is progressing on another plantation of 86 trees near the village, one for each of the heads of state who attended the coronation.
Sustainability
Work on the Mezel Hill Barns building was completed in January 2024.
This is a “net positive” building, providing energy to be used elsewhere on the Estate through technology like solar panels. It also has the distinction of being the first building to bear King Charles III’s cypher.
The Mezel Hill Barns weather vane and His Majesty The King’s cypher
According to Paul, at the time of the talk 30% of the electricity used on the Estate is now provided by solar panels, and 60% of vehicles are electric.
Work continues on net-zero property refurbishments.
Windsor Farms
The Windsor Farms were transferred to The Crown Estate in March 2024. As well as the refurbishment of the Windsor Farm Shop, there has been repair work at Prince Consort’s Farm, and a major project to restore Prince Albert’s Trout Stream, built in the 1830’s, which flows through a 165m/541ft culvert under Riverside Station and along the Broadwater to rejoin the Thames opposite Datchet.
The Rural portfolio
Paul then also mentioned the 29 other estates he is responsible for, with a total of over 200,000 acres/81,000 hectares, and where 300km/186miles of Windsor hedges have been established, as well as 300 acres/121 hectares of new woodland.
Hedge growing on the Devizes Estate
Future plans
Plans for 2025 include the opening of a sensory play room at Adventure Play, and the introduction of a Commercial Dog Walking Scheme to regulate dog walking in the Great Park.
There will also be restoration work at the Mezel Hill Vineyard Barn, the Old Vinery and the Sunninghill Park Dairy, as well as redevelopment of the Windsor & Eton Football Club ground.
