Forestry & Sawmilling

Multi-purpose Forestry

The woods exist today thanks to generational investment. To sustain this, we are motivated by making a difference to the environment, for people and wellbeing as well as to have a viable industry that contributes to the wider estate and employment.

Silviculture – growing the trees

Woodlands now accounts for over 40% of Winton Estate – that’s nearly one million trees, split evenly between conifers and broadleaves. In the last 20 years, we’ve planted the equivalent of 60 professional football pitches – and we’re not finished!

The woodlands are thinned hard to let light onto the forest floor which encourages natural regeneration and diversity of age and species – a practice called Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF). We hope this will mitigate against the spread of diseases though we have not been able to combat the disease affecting ash trees. It’s a long-term game!

Sawmilling – processing the timber

Forestry is primarily about growing a harvestable crop of timber. Timber processing has become separated from the growing stages; at Winton, we are keen to nurture the trees and the foresters so we gain in understanding of the endless possibilities for timber, growing and harvesting for markets to add value through processing.

We have invested in a new Polish sawmill housed within a wonderful timber-framed shed built from 15 of our own Douglas Fir trees. Our first commission was for a staircase.  We are keen to see beauty both within the woods as standing trees as well as visibly in the processed timber within homes and structures – all linked to a Winton brand of regenerative forestry.